Connecting Local Resources, Promoting Global Change One Life at a Time - Natalia, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala
We met Natalia in 2005 when the IHF was working primarily with children in Santiago Atitlan. Natalia was the mother of one of the youngest children we received in the after school program and one of the biggest pains in my neck. Chonita, then 2.5 years old, was always crying, screaming, and hitting the other children. Despite the fact that her older cousins were always there to help her, she was never pleased. Finally, I got the chance to speak with her mother, Natalia, one of the best female Spanish speakers in this predominantly Tzutujil speaking community (most women in the community don’t understand the national language of Spanish). Natalia told me that Chonita didn’t talk much yet, but when she did, she was always complaining about how much her tummy hurt. “Ok, why don’t we just take her over to the hospitalito and have her stool tested?” I said with a knowing tone. I myself had just tested positive for giardia, a common parasite in the area. “No,” Natalia said, “We just don’t have enough money.” I proceeded to convince her not to worry about it that the Hospitalito was sponsored by other foreigners and they would give her a significant discount. She was only persuaded when I promised to accompany her and Chonita to the hospital. While we were in the waiting room, Natalia explained why it was that didn’t have enough money — her husband was one of the town drunks and drug addicts and he stole from her every time she had a few quetzales — he even stole her clothes and sold them for money!
After the positive parasite diagnosis came back, the final cost of the test, consultation and medicine was Q12 (about $1.60). Natalia only had Q2 to her name (about $0.27), so I told her not to worry about it and paid the tab without thinking twice. I then made sure I explained thoroughly to Natalia how to avoid contracting parasites yet again.
The next day she brought me two frog keychains made out of beads. She told me that she had made them for me since she couldn’t pay me back in cash. Maybe, she argued, I could sell them in the United States for more and make some money. Over the next few weeks, Chonita quickly became my favorite among the kids. She was always laughing, playing, and giving out hugs.
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