Ssshhh Don't Tell Pedro!



Pedro's new room from the outside

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 -- Hi all. It's Ronnie, a volunteer with Mayan Families, and I have great news about our progress with Pedro's housing. We have thus far received over three months' rent for Pedro's new room and pledges for at least ten more months, for a total of over a year's worth of rent! We've also gotten the money to buy Pedro a new bed, mattress, water filter (no more parasites!), blankets, pillow, table, chairs, and perhaps a dresser--a fully furnished room!

I just came back from looking at the room that we'll be renting for Pedro, and it's lovely. There is light, an electrical outlet, a window, a solid door, a cement floor and cinder block walls that actually keep out the wind and rain, and access to a clean (and almost private) bathroom and shower--not to mention a bit of color and sunshine! Coming from his old place, I think (director) Sharon put it right when she said that Pedro will likely feel like he just won the lottery. What's more: The new place is right by the shed that he currently lives in, and so Pedro will get to stay close to the kind neighbors who have been looking out for him (helping him take his medicine, giving him extra food when they can afford it, washing his clothes, etc).

Pedro's new room from the inside

Tomorrow we'll be buying the furniture and setting up, and on the 1st of November we'll be moving Pedro into the new place--And it's all a surprise! (We didn't want to promise Pedro anything until we were absolutely sure we could offer it, and since there are now just a few days left until move-in is allowed, we thought it'd be nice to wait a bit longer so as to present the room in ready condition.) Along with the Mayan Families staff members who have been helping with this project, I cannot wait for the big day and to share it all with you.

Today during the lunch run I asked Pedro if he needed anything. I was referring to medicine refills, but I wasn't very clear and so Pedro misunderstood. He told me that, if I could find one, a piece of furniture to put his clothes in would be really nice--Pedro currently keeps his clothes in cardboard boxes on top of his bed, which is very small to begin with. One of his neighbors, a bubbly woman, jokingly asked if the dresser was really for a lady (75-year-old Pedro has never been married). Pedro nodded and then laughed and laughed with the rest of us. I told him that tomorrow I'd look for a dresser.

Pedro's room and bathroom. Right next to the bathroom
is a sink and clean shower that Pedro will have access to.

View of the back corner of the room. It extends
over 5 feet beyond where the window (on the
left) ends.

While huge strides have already been made, we can still use your help in securing Pedro's rent, which is $65 a month. To make a one-time donation towards Pedro's rent, please click here and enter "Elderly Care, Pedro" in the Other section. To make a monthly donation towards his rent, please click here and enter "Elderly Care, Pedro" in the Other Program section. Thank you!

http://projectmicromundo.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/img_13562.jpg

Pedro Gets His New Home!

Pedro on his new chair in his new room

Thanks to the help of so many people, Pedro moved into his new and fully furnished home this week. It was a huge surprise for Pedro--At first he didn't even believe it! And when Pedro understood that this really was all for him, his reaction was enough to bring the entire room to tears (3 Mayan Families staff members and volunteers were present, along with almost a dozen neighbors). Pedro was overwhelmed and more lit up than we've ever seen him. He thanked everyone effusively, laughed, cried, and prayed.

Surprise! Breaking the news to Pedro
From left: Pedro's new landlord, Pedro, Ronnie
(an Elderly Care Program volunteer)

Pedro's initial reactions

You already know what kind of a place Pedro had been living in--Almost anything would have been an improvement. But with your donations we got enough for a lovely home. Pedro now has a comfortable bed, blankets, pillow, table, chair, armoire, water filter, and a safe, warm place to live near the people he knows. As Mayan Families' director Sharon said, it is only a simple room, but to Pedro it is a palace.

Ronnie showing Pedro his new armoire



Pedro trying out his new bed


We want to express deepest thanks to everyone who has helped to make such an incredible difference in Pedro's life. It's is a beautiful example of the great things we can do--of how much we can better the world--when we combine our efforts.

Pedro took some time to pray,
thanking God for these gifts

 

Pedro and volunteer Ronnie


Click here for more photos of the event (we have a bunch).

We are still looking for sponsors and some urgent one-time gifts for our neediest members, whose stories are up on the blog. Please help us to create other success stories like Pedro's.

Again, on behalf of Pedro, thank you all so very much.

Pedro Julajuj - Sponsored

Pedro Julaju

(A-6) Status: Sponsored

Update September 20, 2013: Last Friday Pedro was walking near his house and suddenly became dizzy and fell and hurt his back. We went to check on him in his home and it was clear he was in a lot of pain so we took him to the doctor. Thankfully, Pedro did not break a rib but he did have some serious bruising that was causing him pain and making it difficult for him to even walk. The doctor gave him an injection and some medicines for the pain. On Monday we went to visit him again and take him back to the doctor. Pedro seemed to be doing better and was moving around easier. The doctor gave him another injection for the pain and some more medicine. He also gave Pedro some geriatric multi-vitamins. We are currently looking for $100 (US) to cover the costs of these visits and the medicines. The doctor would also like to figure out what is causing Pedro's dizzy spells and after taking Pedro's blood pressure, the doctor has requested an ECG. I will keep you updated on the status of this appointment.

While visiting Pedro we also noticed he had a few tiny leaks in his roof and because it is the rainy season down here, water was dripping onto his bed. Pedro had been using a sheet of plastic to keep his bed dry, especially since he had been laying in bed a lot after his injury. We were able to rearrange his room so that his bed was no longer under the leaks in the roof and we also filled in the holes in the roof to prevent any further leaks.

For more stories and photos of the ancianos in the Feeding Program, please consider purchasing a book compiled of our participants. All profits go to the Elderly. You can preview the book here.


Pedro Julaju is a very sweet, gentle 75-year-old man. He never married and has no children, and has been completely alone since his brother died several years ago. He used to scrape by with odd jobs (carrying bundles and cleaning), but due to diminished health (severe leg pain after a fall, an eye problem for which we just sought treatment, stomach ailments, and general aging), Pedro has had a lot of trouble finding work. A local family gives him a place to sleep in the corner of a small shed, but for food Pedro must rely on the daily lunch provided by Mayan Families, the few tortillas that he can sometimes afford, and the kindness of neighbors.

Pedro is always happy to see us when we come to visit, and although he cannot hear very well and does not speak much Spanish (his primary language is Kaqhiquel), he always manages to communicate kind words, thanks, and affection. Your support would ensure that Pedro no longer goes hungry, allow for him to seek more comprehensive medical care and pain relief, and perhaps more simply put some light in Pedro’s life by letting him know that he is not alone.

* October 2010 Update *

Pedro has found sponsorship for his wonderful new home! Pedro and Mayan Families send out deepest thanks to all of his supporters.

For more of this truly heartwarming story, click here.

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Help Pedro Find a Home

Pedro receiving hygiene product donations
in his neighbor's yard, where he also picks up
the daily lunch we bring him. Pedro spends
most of his day sitting on the curb or waiting
in his neighbor's yard because he does not
want to stay in his cramped, uncomfortable
room.

We have already introduced Pedro Hulahu, one of our dearest Elderly Care Program members. As explained, Pedro is a sweet, soft-spoken 75-year-old man. He lives alone in the corner of a rundown shed, a cramped and miserable place surrounded by piles of garbage and recycling, some as tall as 8 feet. The ground about the shed is littered with broken glass and plastic, and the actual area that Pedro has is tiny; there are fewer than 3 square feet of free space.

Entrance to Pedro's home

Photo of Pedro's tiny room from the
entrance. There are fewer than 3 square
feet of free space, and the bed, which has
no mattress, is less than 4 ft long.

This space isn’t remotely resistant to the elements: when there is rain, his home floods; when there is wind outside, there is wind inside. At night, despite his clothing and blankets, Pedro is cold. He has no nearby access to a bathroom or drinking water. It's a very sad situation, and dangerous for a man of his age, so we have been trying to find ways to get him out of there. 


Just this week, we got a terrific offer. Mayan Families’ managers Gloria and Julio reached a couple of Pedro’s especially helpful neighbors (who had been out of town) and learned that a rentable room in their home is about to be vacated. We can rent this room for Pedro, equipped with light and access to a bathroom, for $65 a month. Aside from the relative affordability of this offer (even relative to local prices), it’s a great opportunity because Pedro would be living with the few caring, familiar faces and helping hands that he knows.

Pedro sitting on his bed

If we could each give a little, it would make a world of difference for Pedro. A monthly or one-time donation of any amount would be so appreciated. To make such a monthly donation, please click here and enter “Elderly Care, Pedro” next to Other Program. To make a one-time donation, please click here and enter “Elderly Care, Pedro” in the other box.

Thank you so much!

Pedro is very sick

We have sad news regarding Pedro, a dear member of our Elderly Care Program. We have visited him a lot the past several days to check on him after the storms and to see how he's doing with his partial facial paralysis. We knew that his health was deteriorating, but we didn't expect him to get so bad so quickly. We took him to a doctor this morning and were told his blood pressure was dangerously high and Pedro needed to be taken to the hospital in Solola immediately. However, Pedro has no family to look after him, so we were hesitant to send him far away (a difficult trip with the current road conditions) where no one from Mayan Families could check on him regularly. Therefore, we sent him to a private doctor here in Panajachel this afternoon who has given him medicine for his high blood pressure and wants to see him first thing in the morning to run some blood tests and other examinations. The cost for Pedro's medication, multiple doctor consultations, and examinations is $125.

The doctor has strongly advised Pedro not to do any physical activity for at least a month and that he must rest in bed so that his blood pressure does not rise even more. However, Pedro has an arrangement with his neighbor where he works around the house and in return she gives him breakfast and dinner. Because Pedro cannot work for his meals, we are hoping to be able to pay his neighbor for his breakfast and dinner. This way, Pedro will be able to rest and still receive 3 meals a day (one from Mayan Families, two from his neighbor). The cost of feeding Pedro these meals for one month will cost $120. We are very sad that Pedro's health is deterioritating, but we are hoping that with proper medical care and lots of rest, he will improve soon.

To donate to Pedro and help him get better, please go to Donate Now, and scroll down.  Enter your donation in the "Other $" box.  In the "Details" box, write "A6 Medical". Any amount will help Pedro tremendously! Thank you so much!

Questions? Email us at familyaid@mayanfamilies.org

UPDATE: Pedro is doing better

We want to thank all of you who have generously given to Pedro and helped him during this difficult time. You can read the last blog about his health here. Thanks to your donations, we were able to take Pedro to a private doctor and run several exams. The exams showed that Pedro has high blood pressure, that he is malnourished, and that he has amoebas. The doctor prescribed three different medications which we were able to buy with your donations and Pedro has been taking them regularly. We also have enough money to pay for Pedro to receive 3 meals a day for one month. Thank you so much!

We visited Pedro this morning to make sure he is feeling better and to remind him that he has another doctor appointment on Thursday. Thanks to your generous care, Pedro is eating better and feeling better! We hope that the worst is behind him and that he will continue to improve. Thank you so much!

Pedro Coroxon

(A-92) Status: Sponsored as of Dec 16, 2012!
Needs: food, diapers, pain meds, water filter, double mattress
To provide Pedro with any of these needs, click here.
For more stories and photos of the ancianos in the Feeding Program, please consider purchasing a book compiled of our participants. All profits go to the Elderly. You can preview the book here.  

We duck into the small adobe room, where Pedro sits on the bed that takes up most of the space.
He lives in it alone, in a corner of a derelict courtyard across from a store selling expensive chips and soda.
He used to work in one of these stores, long time ago, he says. These days Pedro can't walk alone.
The pila-- the large concrete wash basin--is in the middle bordered in rooms occupied by other tenants of the compound.
His two daughters care for him, says one, while his three sons are drunks.
Twelve years ago his wife died of cancer.
He sleeps on a straw mat on the bed, and relies on diapers so his daughters won't have to clean up after him all the time.
His bladder's been bad for months. If he gets up he can't hold it in, not even to make it to the letrine--  the communal concrete toilet bowl over a hole in the ground.
Both live with their families down the mountain. Neither works; the one I talk to has five kids of her own.
There's no room for him to cook, so the only food he gets is delivered from the Program. He has no clean water to drink, no place to wash aside from the sink that is like a stage in the middle of its audience of apartments.
His daughter holds up one of his diapers-- this is the only one we've got left, she says. We'll have to start finding another solution if we can't find the money for more.

Two men abandoned

Two men abandoned by their own families have come into the care of ours. 

Mayan Families and the help of two human rights workers located an elderly man living alone on a steep cliffside. We slid down its path to Pedro's home. There was a pit outside, where he cooks over an open fire, a faucet without a sink, and a wooden pallet where he presumably pees, though it reeked of urine in the house, and there were puddles near the bed. 

There is no electricity in the house nor candles. 

We brought our doctor, who examined him and found nothing seriously wrong with his health, despite his conditions.

Because Pedro could hardly hear, hardly see and spoke none of the three languages in our group, Pedro's neighbor told us, translating Quichee, that a local group had starting providing support for the old man. He now has a daily meal, at least, and a water filter. 

Unfortunately Pedro's story is not unique. 

Two days ago, a woman came to ask for help for a man she knew. He had no family of his own, but had spent the last eight years receiving care from her mother, who would give him food and let him sleep on their floor. Her mother died three years ago, and so her sister took him in-- and promptly threw him out into the street. "She's neurotic, she doesn't know what she's done," said the woman. 

"He was calling me from the street, 'Mari, Mari, help me please, I'm here in the street,' and he'd been there six months. Six months with the drunks, sleeping there. So now he's here with me, in my tiny house, and he doesn't sleep-- he's an insomniac-- he keeps me up at night with his breathing and his cough. And me, I'm an epileptic. I suffer convulsions and shake. I'm afraid of having an episode when he's around...I have two kids of my own, I don't work and my husband-- he doesn't make enough to feed us all. So what can we do? What can we do? This man, he's another mouth to feed."

What can we do? She said again with the surprise of someone who has thought to the end of her options and still comes short of a solution.

Mayan Families Feeding Program is still trying to find sponsors for the ancianos currently in the program, who suffer similar situations. We try to feed about 70 elderly once a day, who are otherwise unable to work and support themselves. These men are only two of a majority of indigenous Guatemalan elderly living in extreme poverty, abandoned by their families and struggling to survive.

 If you would like to support the Elderly Feeding Program, please make a donation to http://www.mayanfamilies.org/DonateNow. Write "Elderly Program" in the Other box. If you would like to sponsor an elderly person in our program, please scroll through the stories on the right-hand side of the page to see who is still in need of sponsorship. You can make a monthly donation here.Write A-# and the name of who you would like to sponsor. Thank you for your support as we try to feed those unable to feed themselves.

Caring for the elderly

 













Thank you to all of you who have given to our elderly, especially during the storms these past several days. Thanks to your generous donations, we have been visiting the elderly in our program and passing out necessities, such as vitamin-enriched powdered drinks, oatmeal, Ensure, and adult diapers, just to name a few. We have also had several volunteer nurses and a doctor traveling to homes to check up on our elderly during these colder temperatures.

This is Pedro. He doesn't have any living family, but thanks to caring neighbors and Mayan Families, he does have people who check on him regularly and feed him. He currently suffers from a temporary face paralysis on his left side. Thanks to your donations, we're able to help him receive steroid injections that are improving his paralysis. We've also made sure that he has plenty of soft foods and warm drinks since he cannot chew solid food right now due to the paralysis. When we visited Pedro, he gratefully showed us the food supplies that Mayan Families had donated to him. He is so very thankful for the support he receives from your donations! Thank you for helping him!

Even more good news!

Felipe and Clemente Palax (A-40, 41) are now both sponsored for one year,
and also have received a new mattress and a large basket of food!

Maria and Guatelupe Xalcut Garcia (A-55, 61) are now both sponsored, &
have both received new mattresses, beds, pillows, blankets and a large basket of food!




















Juana and Rosaria Par (A-65, 67) are now both sponsored for one year,
have a new bed, mattress, and a large basket of food!
























Celestina Simieon (A-53) now has a new blanket, bed and mattress!

Pedro Coroxon (A-92) is now sponsored to eat each day!

Also, we have received over 99 bags of food for the Elderly:
the extra bags will feed them while the Program takes time off for Christmas.

Thank you to all of the generous donors who will make this Christmas
an especially happy one for these people! We'll keep you updated with photos
 in the upcoming weeks. Gracias, and mati'osh from our Elderly, and all of us at Mayan Families! 

Good news!

Celestina A-53 gets her door repaired!

Pedro A-6 is now sponsored for meals, medicine AND rent for his home!

Alberta A-49 receives blankets and sheets for her bed.









Miguel A-24 receives a pad to make his bedridden life more comfortable, and much needed medicines.

Socrorro A-94, Petrona A-88, Felipa A-38 and Miguel A-25 receive medical attention.

 Josefa A-18 receives diapers, Ramos A-8 receives new clothes, and Tereso A-2 receives Ensure.



Thank you so much!