TALK OF THE TOWN
Couple has ties to Guatemala's vice president

West Wharton County residents are involved in scores of events each week, ranging from travel to hobbies, to a host of activities often overlooked.

With this Lifestyle section addition, the Leader-News is hoping this column can recognize a few of them.

Please submit your short articles via e-mail to lifestyle@leader-news.com for consideration.

How many of us can actually say we know a vice president of a foreign country? Well Patty and Curtis Jensen of Danevang do.

It seems they struck up a special friendship with Curtis' surgeon, Dr. Rafael Espada, during his stay at Methodist Hospital in 1997.

"It was personal. We were there five months," she said. "His (Curtis') odds of surviving were slim, but Espada never gave up."

Espada came to the U.S. to become a surgeon. He planned to return to Guatemala to open his own practice. While he has returned home, it is not in the capacity of a surgeon. He is Guatemala's new vice president.

"I cried when he told me he was leaving," said Patty.

While he practiced in the U.S. for 30 years, he traveled to Guatemala every month to perform free surgeries. He also helped start the country's first cardiac hospital.

From his campaign manager Rose Baglia, his former administrative assistant at Methodist, the Jensens received an e-mail shortly before the election. It read:

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Jensen,

I think about both of you often and am sorry I haven't written before, but it has been very busy down here. We have been in Guatemala for seven months now on the campaign trail. The final run-off election is Sunday, Nov. 4. I feel confident that we will win and Dr. Espada will become vice president in January. He will be responsible for all of the social programs, including fixing the medical problems. There is just so much to do but I know he will do a good job."

Espada, born and raised in Guatemala, was trained as a surgeon at Baylor College of Medicine under Dr. Michael DeBakey. He left his position at Methodist Hospital this past April to run for the position with Alvaro Colom as his running mate, now the newlyelected president.

Over the course of 10 years now, he has kept in contact with the Jensens. Even when Curtis had toe surgery this past July, Espada came by his hospital room to visit. He also performed sur- gery on Curtis' mother, removing half of her cancerous lung eight years ago. "And she is just fine," she said.

According to Patty, Espada has a remarkable bedside manner and is very personable. "People think most doctors are not personable, but he is. I have never heard a nurse or anyone say an unkind word about him. He's just a fine human being."