4 year old Cristian has trouble breathing

Micaela is 22 years old, the oldest of 7 children, and a single mother to two beautiful boys.  She studied through third grade and since then has been helping her mother raise their family and then became a mother.  Her sons are 4 year old Cristian and 2 year old Gerson.  The boys' father abandoned the family 7 months ago, but was never a source of support as he spent all the money he made on his drinking problem.

Micaela is very worried about her son Cristian.  He has had constant problems breathing, but she has not been able to take him to the doctor.  An appointment to check on his respiratory issues costs $20 with a local private doctor.

Micaela's father, Antonio, and 20 year old brother, Luis, are both able to work, but frequently find themselves searching without ever finding a job.  Having such a large family, the little money the two men are able to make is not enough for their basic necessities.  Most of the family sleeps on the floor and they often go to bed hungry.  In addition to Cristian and Gerson, Micaela has two young sisters, 3 year old Elisabeth and 2 year old Marcelina.  These four little ones are especially in dire need of three nourishing meals a day to keep their developing bodies on the right track.  Such a large family would spend over $150 monthly to have enough food for everyone.

If you are able to help send Cristian to the doctor or provide the family with food, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  In the Other $ box, enter the amount of your donation.  In the Details box, enter FA 228 Medical or FA 228 Food to indicate the purpose of your donation.  Thank you for helping this single mom supporting her own young family and her little brothers and sisters!

Family struggling with food and school payments

Federico and Micaela have three children who are all studying. They're thankful that their children are in school, but they can't afford the school payments any more. In an effort to keep his family off the street, Federico took a job as a nigh watchman. But instead of earning a salary he and his family are given a small room to live in. But Federico and Micaela know that this job won't last forever and when that day comes they will have no place to live.

Their greatest needs right now are school sponsors for their children and any type of food donation. Micaela is trying to find work, but she never went to school so her options are very limited. She desperately wants her children to be able to stay in school so they can have a better future, but she and her husband feel paralyzed and are struggling. If you would like to give this family a food donation, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "FA234".

To help 12 year old Federico Antonio stay in school, please go to Donate Now and enter $190 in the "Student Sponsorship box $" and #2462 in the "Student ID#" box.

To help 8 year old Rocael stay in school, please go to Donate Now and enter $190 in the "Student Sponsorship box $" and #2463 in the "Student ID#" box.

 To help 6 year old Maria stay in school, please go to Donate Now and enter $190 in the "Student Sponsorship box $" and #2464 in the "Student ID#" box.

Thank you so much! If you have any questions feel free to contact us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org

Update: Dominga is home!

Thanks to all of your support, Dominga was able to receive her life saving surgery and after only one week of recuperation in the hospital, she has returned home to her family.  She is feeling better than ever, has very little pain, and is even able to walk around her home!  She has a big appetite and is quickly regaining the strength she had before she became so ill.

Right now, Dominga still needs to go to Guatemala City for frequent check-ups and to evaluate how much cancer is left in her body.  She needs to follow a very strict diet where she eats small amounts very frequently.  Her doctor recommended that she eat as much fruit, vegetables, eggs, and cereals as possible.  It is very difficult for Dominga's family to buy the foods she needs as they tend to be more expensive.  They are doing the best they can, but any small amount of help you are able to give will help Dominga to recover even more quickly.

To help contribute to Dominga's continued medical needs or the food she needs to maintain her special diet, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the Other $ box.  In the Details box, write #41 Dominga Medical or #41 Dominga Food.   

Thank you so much for your continued support for this family.  Because of your help, these children will still have their mother!

Ingrid needs to see a specialist!

Ingrid with her 2 sisters

You may remember Ingrid Elizabeth, the 4 year old in our San Antonio preschool. She has been ill with some very troubling symptoms that, according to some medical professionals, are symptoms of leukemia.

Mayan Families has provided Ingrid with some initial blood exams, but we have received different diagnoses from different medical professionals and no one seems to really know what's going on.  We're extremely worried about Ingrid and need to send her to a specialist.

We desperately need to get Ingrid to the capital so she can be examined by a specialist and we can find out what's going on.  Her parents are willing to go, but they are very afraid.  They've never traveled that far before and they don't speak Spanish.  We will have a MF employee who is bilingual accompany them, and another MF employee who is knowledgable about the hospital go with them.  The cost of transportation, to pay for the translators, and food for the family (as it will be a day long trip) is $130.

Please help us determine what illness this little girl has so we can find her proper treatment!  To donate, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "Ingrid Medical". Thank you so much!

Single mother in need of medical help

Berta Ofelia is going through significant trials.  She and her husband have 3 children, aged 6 - 12 years old.  However, about 7 months ago her husband left her to be with another woman.  He and his new girlfriend decided they wanted to take the eldest 2 children with him.  Tragically, Berta lost her husband and two eldest children all at once.  She moved back to Panajachel with her youngest child, 6-year old Berta Isabel, and is now living near her parents.

On top of the emotional turmoil, she is also suffering physical pain.  She began to have pain and swelling in her foot and went to the public health clinic.  There they told her that she has very high levels of uric acid in her body that her kidneys are not eliminating quickly enough.  As a result, she is often in pain from something as small as bumping her foot against a chair. 

Berta needs to go to a private doctor to confirm this diagnosis and begin a treatment.  If she does not do anything, this condition could lead to kidney failure or kidney stones.

Sometimes Berta's parents help her with food, but they are so poor themselves that they really can't afford it.  So Berta is trying to take care of her child, Berta Isabel, by washing clothes but the pay is very low.  Furthermore, it's hard to find any consistent type of work.

Berta and her daughter are in need of help.  Berta needs to go to a doctor, which costs $20.  They are in desperate need of a food donation, which could cost anywhere from $35 to $100.  Anything you could give this struggling single mother would make a world of difference.  To give, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "FA233 Medical".  Thank you so much!

Questions? Email us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org

Struggling wife caring for parapalegic husband and 2 children

Benjamin and Maria have two children: Yenifer aged 2 and Angel aged 1.  They've never had a lot of money, but they were healthy and happy and grateful for their family.  But then tragedy struck.

About a year and a half ago, Benjamin was involved in a terrible accident.  A bus hit him and left him in critical condition.  They had to amputate his legs from the thighs.  It's very difficult for him to get around and be independent.  He has to wear diapers and his wife has to care for him constantly.  He cannot walk, cannot work, and cannot provide for his family.

After the accident happened, Benjamin was hospitalized for a very long time.  There was a doctor who believed that Benjamin could maybe walk again someday using prostheses but it would be expensive, so Benjamin and Maria made the difficult decision to sell their land for extra money.  It has now been a year and a half and the hope that he may someday walk with prostheses is quickly fading.  Now Benjamin and Maria are left with a huge medical debt from the many, many months he spent in the hospital.  Currently they pay $128 each month on Benjamin's medical debt.

They now live with their in-laws and extended family in a cramped home.  Maria can't work because she has to care for Benjamin and their two very small children.  Maria came to our office desperate for help.  She cannot care for her husband and children all alone and their extended family is too poor to help them.

To help this struggling family with Benjamin's medical debt or a food donation, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "FA232".  Thank you so much for your generosity and care!

Jose had a stroke and can't provide for his family

Alejandra and Jose do all that they can to support their two children, Felix and Jose Alexander. But neither of the parents got past 4th grade so they're left with labor or domestic jobs, and this type of work doesn't pay well or consistently.

About 6 months ago Jose had a stroke and now he can barely walk. The doctors say the stroke was caused by a virus, but Jose doesn't fully understand what that means. The doctors told him that he needs to have therapy sessions three times a week, and each one costs $8. Jose and Alejandra tried to pay for his therapy by borrowing money from family and neighbors, but it's just too expensive.

They have had to move in with Alejandra's parents and most of their food comes from their extended family sharing with them. But this won't last long as the extended family is poor and can't afford the costs of feeding their own children.

With Jose unable to work things have gotten extremely hard for the family. Alejandra stays home to take care of her husband and tries to find work that she can do at home, but it's hard to find. Without any fixed income, their poverty weights heavy on them. Eventually it was just too much, so Jose has had to quit his physical therapy.

Furthermore, the family is in debt. From Jose's stroke, doctor visits, and physical therapy they now have a debt of $2,400. Alejandra is worried sick about their debt and how they will provide for their children if her husband doesn't get better soon.

Please consider helping Jose and Alejandra and their children. They are in need of help to pay for physical therapy, food donations and help to pay off their debt. To help them, please go to Donate Now and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "FA227". Thank you so much for generously caring for this family!