Marcos is a 53-year-old man from a rural area of Northern Guatemala, and only speaks Q’eqchi’, an indigenous Mayan language. Marcos was working on building a house many years ago when he lost his balance while standing on a ladder. To break his fall, he grabbed an electrical wire, which gave him severe burns, a life-threatening electric shock, and both his hands were amputated. Since then, he has been working selling newspapers outside the complex of public hospitals in Guatemala City, which is how the complex’s care manager (second picture) found him and was able to help him get evaluated for a prosthetic limb.
Marcos moved to the capital to be able to make a living, since the only work available in his native village is in agriculture, which he is unable to do. He currently rents out a room to live in, and loves to work. He has an assistant named Juan (little boy, first picture), who helps him carry out his daily activities. Marcos has developed a system of attaching things such as his phone, identification, and money to strings that he ties around his neck, which he can then grab with his mouth.
This prosthetic will be life-changing for Marcos. He will be able to do things as simple as eat, ride the bus, and sell newspapers without help. Marcos will be able to be independent for the first time since his accident several years ago.
Marcos said, “I can’t wait to continue working. I am most excited to be able to eat alone.”