Help Roberto Face The Future!

This is Roberto! He hasn't been able to go out in public since his face was disfigured! "I am so sad that children run away when they see me in the bank or park! Now even my Grand children can't hide the uncertainty in their eyes or voices when they see me", he told me just before leaving for the hospital and a fifth even bigger surgery! Could you help us help him and his family through this trial? Please help him to not feel like a monster! Help us give him a brighter future! We are mission volunteers working in Northern rural Costa Rica. We work with the youth and young adults of these communities but occasionally we also help families and individuals in need. A single father who lost his leg, young parents nearly killed in a motorcycle accident, the young lady who was victim to a hit and run accident, or others needing help with medical bills or transportation to the hospital. But this time it hits very close to home for us. This time it is my Brother in law, Roberto!Roberto and his wife live very humbly in a wooden 'shanty' on a speck of land between the dirt road and the drop off to the creek below. It has no window glass and dirt floors. He earns a living using his skills with a chainsaw. He occasionally is contracted by the local utility company for work clearing the high voltage power lines! It's good money but hard earned and short lived. When he fell from his bicycle as he rode home from work the wound to his left cheek was small. But it healed strangely..... After too much time he consulted a doctor. Tests were done and he was told he had a malignancy. The prat around the original small wound was removed. Then after a year he developed an 'oddness' on his cheek.... A return visit to doctors showed the malignancy wasn't completely removed and now another surgery would be needed! If you can imagine he has now had four surgeries! Here in Costa Rica we have socialized medicine and that is both good and bad. Good cause all can be treated, bad cause you need the "patience of Job" for your appointment date to arrive and even more(mixed with your anxiety over the outcome!) as you wait for your surgery date and treatments!! It is nerve racking to say the least! In Roberto's case he is now having his fifth surgery and this time it is super delicate and very dangerously! They have rescheduled the date four times, because there were to be four surgeons involved in the surgery AND he was told he would be admitted to the hospital for four to six MONTHS until Recovered! The most advanced hospital in CR is called the Hospital Mexico in San Jose! It is here, five hours by bus from his home, that he will be staying post surgery! So the patients receive food, medicine and a bed but many times any "extras" must be brought by the family (towel, toiletries, extra blankets or pillows and sometimes even toilet paper!) The bus fare to visit is $25 round trip but visiting hours aren't until late afternoon so there is also figuring out where to stay overnight plus food for the day! Meanwhile, his wife must live as well and they have bills to pay like water, electricity and food! All while he is unable to work! We are asking for your help! Every small donation will help us help this family! It will be an ongoing effort until he is home, so maybe a little now and a little later? Or one lump sum and we will give it to them as they need it! Thank you for kindly reading this far and THANK YOU THANK YOU! For your generous love, prayers, and support!! Dios le Bendiga! Robyn Wilbur