Vicenta and Juan

Update May 9th 2011
Today we heard the very sad news that Juan passed away this afternoon, shortly after lunch time. No one was aware that he was unwell, and we believe he went peacefully. Thank you to those who contributed to making his last few days of life more comfortable. He was so grateful for the new mattress, and to be receiving daily hot nutritious food. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his wife and family in their time of grief.
We would greatly appreciate any donations toward the funeral, which is always a very costly event for Guatemalan families.


Update April 19th 2011
Thanks to generous donations, Vicenta and Juan are now getting a brand new mattress for their bed!! They will be so delighted when they find out! Thank you so much, this will improve their quality of life considerably. We are also happy to announce that their first month of medication has also been covered by the same generous donor.  Thank you for making this wonderful difference to Vicenta and Juan's life.

Original Post
Vicenta Chial is 93 years old, and her husband, Juan Ramos, is 87.  They live next to their grandchildren, who give them what they can for breakfast and dinner, to supplement the lunch they get from the program.

Vicenta and Juan outside their grandchildren's home.

Vicenta and Juan have a bed, but no mattress.  The lack of a mattress must be especially painful for this couple, since Juan has constant lower back pain, and Vicenta recently fell down, landing on her back.  She went to the doctor following the fall, but Juan is distrustful of doctors, and hasn't gone, despite pain in his back and feet.  He told us that he would like some over the counter pain medications, though, if we are able to provide them.

The bed, without a mattress, that Vicenta and Juan share.

Vicenta and Juan could most use a mattress, pain medicines, blankets, or a water filter.  If you would like to help them, please go to Donate Now, and enter your gift in the 'Other' box.  Enter A34 (for Vicenta) and A35 (for Juan) and the purpose of your donation ('mattress', 'meds', etc) in the 'Details' box.  It will cost $60 each to keep Vicenta and Juan eating a daily hot meal with Mayan Families, if you are able to assist with them with this  please go to the donate monthly page and enter A34 (for Vincenta) or A35 (for Juan). Thank you for your kind assistance!