Stories from Guatemala
A Step Towards Hope:
How Your Support Changes Lives
Imagine a 5-year-old girl, unable to walk on her own, carried everywhere by her parents, watching sadly as other children play. This was Ixhil's reality in a remote Guatemalan village. But thanks to your support, her story took an incredible turn.
During one of our medical trips, we met Ixhil. Her inability to walk independently due to a possible neurological issue touched our hearts. We knew we had to help, but how?
That's when a series of serendipitous events unfolded. Back in the U.S., while searching for a simple walker, we stumbled upon an unexpected find - a nearly new $650 gait trainer for just $15 at a thrift store. It seemed the universe was aligning to help this little girl.
The moment we introduced Ixhil to her new gait trainer was magical. Her face lit up with joy as she took her first independent steps. The smiles and tears of happiness from everyone present were a testament to the profound impact of this simple act of kindness. Here you can see the heartwarming video of Ixhil's first steps with her gait trainer.
But the story doesn't end there. Today, years later, Ixhil walks without any assistance. Your support didn't just provide a temporary solution; it changed the trajectory of her entire life.
While providing gait trainers to young children isn't a common occurrence in our work, Ixhil's story exemplifies how our continued presence in these communities creates opportunities for life-changing interventions. It's a powerful reminder of how your ongoing support enables us to identify and address unique needs as they arise.
This transformation was possible because of you. Your donations fund our dedicated in-country team members, like Samuel, Julio, Nineth, and Lesbia, who venture into these communities every week to identify needs. You provide the resources for our nurses, supplies, and programs that make these life-changing interventions possible.
I'm Sean Murphy, husband of Jennifer Hoock, who co-founded this organization 14 years ago with Dr. Teresa Wallace and Nurse Alice Lobenstein. We've conducted over 45 trips to Guatemala, serving over 10,000 patients across a dozen villages. We've even built a remote clinic and installed a communications tower to bring internet access to these communities.
Your contributions, no matter how small, have an enormous impact. For the cost of a coffee, you can set in motion a chain of events that transforms lives. Without our collective effort, Ixhil might not be walking or receiving an education today.
Will you join us in spreading more good? Your donation today could be the first step towards another child's brighter future. Together, we can create more stories of hope and transformation.
"Ixhil" center, with community health promoter on the left, and her mother on the right.