Wuqu’ Kawoq

Guatemala

Hospital de Sololá

Patients at Hospital de Sololá

Ana lives in Guatemala with her husband and two children, who are 12 and seven. They live in a one-room adobe house, and she is 16-19 weeks pregnant. She is indigenous Maya Quiche, which means she speaks little Spanish, and going to the hospital where nobody speaks her language can be intimidating. Ana's husband is a bus driver, and she embroideries traditional Mayan blouses with flowers, leaves, and small animals. Although she and her husband are excited to have another child, they are concerned about being able to afford transportation to the hospital from their rural village, medications, and labs she needs. Ana was previously funded for diabetes care in 2014. Due to her diabetes condition and a large fibroid in her uterus, she needs extra prenatal care to ensure the safety of her and her baby. Although she didn't need insulin before getting pregnant, she needs it now. She also needs regular consults with an obstetrician, and a cesarian birth to make sure her or her baby do not suffer any life-threatening complications. For $281, Ana will receive treatment for preeclampsia. She will also receive transportation, interpretation, and advocacy services as she goes to the hospital for her prenatal care. All labs and medications will be provided, and our partner's team will work with her to create a custom birth plan so she can quickly and safely arrive at the hospital to give birth when the time comes. This treatment not only will save her life, but will give her the chance to bring a new life into the world!

$281raised
Fully funded

"I am scared about what could happen,” shares Maria. “But I am glad I have support." 36-year-old Maria lives in a rural region of Guatemala, and delights in caring for her seven children. Maria is currently expecting another baby. “For three months Maria has not had regular menstruation, and 15 days ago she started to have hemorrhaging,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Our medical team suspects she has an ectopic pregnancy based on the results of some preliminary lab tests.” In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg remains in a woman’s fallopian tube instead of moving to the uterus to develop as it should. This means the fertilized egg will not survive, and that the mother is at serious risk for internal damage: for instance, the fallopian tube can rupture, causing dangerous bleeding. “Ectopic pregnancies are fatal to the mother if not treated,” explains WK. Fortunately, treatment is available for Maria. A surgical technique known as laparoscopy can be used to examine Maria’s pelvic organs through a small incision in her abdomen. Doctors will then use a small camera to locate and remove the fertilized egg from her fallopian tube. This operation costs more than Maria and her husband, a day laborer, can afford—especially with seven children to support. But we can help. $977 will fund the surgery that Maria needs, as well as the lab tests and medication that will ensure she remains healthy after the operation. “This procedure will save Maria’s life,” says WK, “allowing her to be with her husband and seven children, and have a long and healthy life.”

$977raised
Fully funded