Maria is a 27-year-old mother and artisan who lives with her husband and ten-year-old daughter in rural Guatemala. Maria is an industrious and hardworking woman who weaves traditional Guatemalan blouses and embroiders clothing. She was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago. Because she knew little about diabetes and had limited economic resources, Maria was unable to manage her diabetes on her own or to afford treatment.
Diabetes causes frequent urination, weight loss, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. For women of childbearing age like Maria, diabetes makes pregnancy more dangerous and miscarriages more likely. Maria has already lost a lot of weight and experienced vision trouble. If left untreated, diabetes can cause cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, and an early death.
Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will provide the medicine and education Maria needs to adequately manage her condition in the future. The treatment will lessen the complications she currently experiences, provide the education to manage her condition in the future, and give her the energy to participate in her family's life. Maria is expected to begin treatment on April 10. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund the treatment.
Maria says, "I want to get my weight and my vision back. I want to keep weaving and embroidering. I also dream of having two more children."