Veronica Guerrero

    Veronica was born on January 11th, 1960 to Maria Reina and Pablo Guerrero. She and her six siblings (three brothers, three sisters) enjoyed the beautiful and serene lifestyle San Pedro Town offered. Playing hopscotch and fishing were Veronica's favorite things to do.

    Veronica attended San Pedro Roman Catholic School, but from the time she was eight years old, she had to help her father take care of her younger siblings. As the oldest daughter, she was responsible for cooking, washing and every other household chore. Still, Veronica continued to study hard and managed to graduate from elementary school at the age of 11 with a scholarship to further her education in Belize City.

    Veronica wanted to attend high school but there was no such institution on the island at that time. Since her family did not have enough money, even with the scholarship, to pay for her boarding in the city, she was forced to let go of her dream. Principal Leonel Reyes of San Pedro Roman Catholic School recognized Veronica's potential and offered her a job working as a teacher's aid at the school. She recalled needing to stand on a tomato crate to teach children their ABCs because she was so small.

    In 1976, Veronica got married and welcomed the wonderful blessing of becoming a mother to three children: Sadia (26), Carmelita (20), and Rolando (16). While she was pregnant with her first child, Veronica visited the town library where she discovered her passion for science books, specifically anatomy. Everyday, after finishing her household chores, she would visit the library to learn more about the human body.

    In 1981, Veronica once again joined the work force. Initially employed as a woman janitor at the San Pedro Lions Clinic, she later began assisting Dr. Otto Rodriguez (the resident doctor) with minor clinic tasks, such as sterilizing needles and bandaging patients. A year later, Dr. Rodriguez's nurse was unavailable to help with an emergency delivery, so Veronica was pulled into the emergency room to assist. It was during this emergency that the doctor realized how well she performed under pressure. As a result, Dr. Rodriguez began teaching Veronica medical procedures so that she could help in almost all aspects of the healthcare provided at the clinic.

    For nearly a decade, Veronica and Dr. Rodriguez worked hand-in-hand at the Lions Clinic. She soon realized that experience and knowledge were not enough though, and decided it was time to receive some formal medical training. The doctor began looking at options and discovered an International Correspondence School course, which offered Dental/Medical Assistant training through The Barton School in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. The course was fairly expensive but Veronica was ambitious, so every morning for two years, she would wake up at four o'clock to bake Johnnycakes, doughnuts and bread to sell at the corner store. With the money she made selling baked goods, she paid for her lessons. This desire for knowledge finally paid off when, on May 7th, 1993, Veronica received her diploma as a trained Dental/Medical Assistant. "That was my proudest moment, knowing that I had worked so hard to acquire my certificate and I had done it," she exclaimed.

    Although Veronica's professional life was going well, her marriage came to an end. More determined than ever, in 1996 she studied Radiology and received lessons in Basic X-Ray techniques from Wayne Remy (deceased), a part-time resident who owned a Biomedical Equipment Company. From then on, she would enroll in every class she "could get her hands on," such as Red Cross First Aid Training, Subaquatic Diving Accident Management, and Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Injuries. In addition, she became certified as a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Instructor.

    In 1998, Hurricane Keith passed through San Pedro and the damage to the Lions Clinic was so extensive that it was forced to shut down. The SP Health Center was forced to double its services, so Veronica accepted an offer to join their team as an Auxiliary Nurse. Five years later, Veronica also works as the clinic's secretary and assists in every way possible. "I am always willing to help, whatever the job; if it is in my power, I will do it," she said. That same year she met the man she plans to spend the rest of her life with, Ronald Melendez.

    Today, Veronica is a Justice of the Peace and also volunteers her time as a member of the SP Branch of the Red Cross and the SP AIDS Commission. "It is a nice feeling to know that you are helping others," she explained.

    Although she has accomplished so much personally, Veronica's lists her proudest achievement as having put her daughters through school. She proudly stated that both of them have earned Master's Degree; Sadia in International Relations and Carmelita in Tourism, and added that her son is in his third year at San Pedro High School. "My kids are my pride and joy. I also consider the people I work with to be my extended family. I am very happy with the way my life is now. I would not change it for anything in the world," she commented.

    In her spare time, Veronica enjoys knitting, reading, walks on the beach and spending time with her family.

    For the past 23 years, Veronica has dedicated her life to providing healthcare in San Pedro. She does not regret the hardships and sorrows she has endured. "Every mistake you make is a lesson in life. It hurts, yes, but you learn from it. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. When I was younger, I learned a phrase that I live by - 'Never say never, whatever you do'," she ended.

    This perseverance has certainly paid off. Loving, ambitious and always willing to assist, Veronica Guerrero is indeed healthcare's "helping hand" in "Our Community."