Hilario is a 23-year-old man from Guatemala. He works as a shoemaker in a local workshop to support his young children, wife, and grandfather. He lives with his family in a cinderblock house with a tin roof and a dirt floor.
Hilario’s loves to play soccer and go to church. Recently, however, his vision began to worsen. He could no longer play soccer, and he worried that he would become unable to work.
In October 2016, Watsi donors funded Hilario’s cataract surgery. However, when Hilario arrived for his scheduled surgery, his doctor realized that he did not have cataracts. He simply needed glasses to correct his poor eyesight.
On December 5, Hilario received a new pair of glasses. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $552 to pay for Hilario’s transportation from his rural village, his evaluation by an ophthalmologist and an optometrist, a custom pair of glasses, and follow-up care to adjust and correct his glasses.
“I need glasses to help improve my vision because I cannot recognize people or things from far away, which makes it hard to work and even go out and walk on my own,” says Hilario. “I appreciate the support because I don’t have the resources to buy glasses.”