Ronald at home with his family between treatments in 2011

Ronald was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2011 at the age of 12. The family exhausted their meager savings in one month paying for transportation from their remote village to the children’s cancer center in Guatemala City. Doctors requested tests and medicine they couldn’t afford. Ronald’s parents had to deny their son treatment because they ran out of money. They asked family and friends for help but loans they received were not enough. They live in extreme poverty.  There is no running water, walls are sparse corn stalks and adobe, rooms have dirt floors, and the kitchen has only an open fire cook stove that spews toxic smoke into nearby rooms.  There is no running water.

Ronald’s house made of cornstalks and adobe bricks

Juan Pablo, Ronald’s father, told us when when they went to the hospital Ronald had to stand between his father’s legs on the bus because they only had money for one bus fare.  They went without food while they traveled to the hospital, 4 hours away from their village one way. Bus fare was $12.

Ronald’s parents came to our medical clinic to seek our help. They knew time was running out for their son, they had no money, and family and friends couldn’t help.  Through our Critical Care Fund we were able to pay for the bus fares for mom, dad, and Ronald.  We helped them with food for the days they were at the hospital.  We paid for Ronald’s tests, medicine and chemotherapy treatments. We continue to help Ronald with expenses for transportation to the cancer center, food, and tests required for his follow up cancer care.

Juanita, Ronald’s mother, said “We had no one to turn to. We had no money and our son was dying. You were the only ones who helped us.” Juan Pablo said “The financial support we received saved our son’s life.”

Ronald is now 15 and tests show he is cancer free.  He attends 9th grade in his remote village with the help of a People for Guatemala scholarship.

Ronald at our student rally in 2014

Ronald’s parents, Juan Pablo and Juanita, are eternally grateful and credit our support for saving their son.  There are many more stories like Ronald’s story.  In rural Guatemala children and adults go untreated because the families literally have no money.  Any government health program that might be available in the rural areas  lacks staff and sufficient medicine to treat even the most basic problems.

Our Guatemala health team cares for the indigenous families living in the remote mountains in San Martin, Jilotepeque. These people deserve healthy families and productive communities.