Alejandro has passed away

We're deeply saddened to report that Alejandro has passed away. After fighting for several days he is now at peace, but his family is obviously grieving his loss (you can read the original post here). Alejandro passed away in the public hospital in the capital. His body now has to be transported nearly 3 hours to Panajachel by a licensed car certified to carry deceased bodies. It's very expensive and the family doesn't know how they will afford it. Plus, they are planning the funeral and paying the medical bills that Alejandro incurred during his hospitalization. A Mayan Families employee visited Alejandro's family today and they had nothing to eat. The family is grieving the loss of a loved one and also faced with nearly impossible financial burdens. To pay for the certified transport, the funeral, and the medical bills, the family needs $300. Please consider helping this family in this great time of need. To help, please go to Donate Now and scroll down. Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "A33 Medical".

Alejandro is in the hospital

UPDATE: Alejandro has been transferred to the hospital in Guatemala City because the doctors in Solola said there was nothing they could do for him. He is not doing well. He is unconscious most of the time and can only move his hands. His family wants to take him home since there is not much more that can be done for him. The family is obviously hurting and grieving, but on top of this they are struggling financially. Alejandro's short time in two hospitals has created many medical expenses that the family cannot afford. Please keep Alejandro and his family in your thoughts and consider helping them financially through this difficult time.

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Alejandro is a sweet man who lives in San Jorge and is part of our Elderly Care Program. He lives alone and has had over-all good health, despite some eye problems and muscular pain. However, we were very sad to hear that yesterday Alejandro fainted and was taken to the hospital in Solola. The doctors are running tests on him to determine exactly what's wrong, but Alejandro is not doing well. The doctors are not optimistic of his full recovery and we're very worried about Alejandro. His family is also very concerned because they can't afford his medical expenses. We need $100 for his medical needs at this time, and we will hopefully know more soon about what type of a treatment he may need. To donate, please go to Donate Now, and scroll down. Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "A33 Medical". Thank you so much for helping this family during this very difficult time! If you have any questions, contact us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org

Alejandro Samines Saput

Alejandro with his new blanket!

Update April 7th
Thanks so much to generous donations, Alejandro now has a nice thick blanket to ward off the cold mountain air at night. He also has his first month of pain medication paid for. Thank you!


Original Post
Alejandro Samines Saput is 89 years old and lives alone following the death of his wife two years ago. He lives in a one room, dirt, floor house owned by his daughter.  Though Alejandro doesn't cook, the soot from the open fire he uses to heat his coffee each day has blackened the walls and ceiling of the house.

Alejandro can not work because he has trouble moving the right side of his body, and must always rely heavily on his cane to get around. Alejandro's health problems unfortunately do not end there--he can barely hear, and is plagued by painful cramps in his leg, which is badly scarred from a fall several years ago (he could not remember the exact date). 

He is lucky to have a daughter that can provide some support, though it isn't much.  She brings him a small amount of food weekly, which is all she can spare, as she is a widow who supports herself, her son, and her blind mother-in-law on the small salary she earns washing clothes in Panajachel.  Alejandro's only guaranteed meal is the lunch that is provided by the Mayan Families facility in San Jorge. Despite all the hardship in his life, Alejandro still has a wonderful upbeat personality. When asked (via his grandson, who shouted into his ear in Kaqchiquel) if he needed a mattress for his bed, he grinned and laughed, and pantomimed falling backwards and being swallowed up by his bed.  He doesn't like the sinking feeling of a soft mattress, so he's content with the grass mats on his bed, though he did admit, shyly, that he would like more blankets to ward off the mountain air at night.

A heavy wool blanket to keep Alejandro warmer at night can be bought for $20. We would also as like to provide him with pain medicine, which costs $8 per month.

 Alejandro also does not have a water filter.  A filter can be purchased for $50, which includes the filter and two filter cartridges that will provide him with clean water for between one and two years.

If you would like to provide Don Alejandro with some of these basic comforts, you can do so at Donate Now, by entering the amount of your donation in the "Other" box, and "A33" under "Details."