Edgar and his daughter need extra help after mother´s death

As Edgar and his friend tried to pass through security at the airport, they were stopped and asked to open their luggage. When the security agents realized what the content of the luggage was, they could barely believe the explanation...

This is a short story to tell you about my friend Edgar, an amazing painter and even more amazing human being. His life and that of his daughter just took a tragic turn, this recent chain of events puts their future in a precarious situation. Do you want to know the story and see how you can help? Read on, please.

Edgar is an artist who has devoted his life to painting and drawing since he was a young boy. He realized pretty early that his creativity and imagination wanted to live on a canvas and, once he started, he never looked back. Even though he knew that this path was an uncertain and hard one, he decided to follow what his mind and heart told him he was born to do.

After many years of practice and learning, he and his best friend - another humble painter from our town, in Guatemala - started selling some of their paintings, which gave them just enough to pay the bills and, in Edgar´s case, he was also able to help his mom, who was partially under his care.

Even after years of efforts and some success, economical stability was far from their reality, and probably the best way to illustrate this is to tell you what happened to them when they got a scholarship to study for a couple of weeks with a famous painter in Spain: they got the good news and, even though the trip and housing were paid for, they knew that they still had to save up money to cover all the other expenses. As they were walking though security at the airport, they were called to the side to have their luggage double-checked... something was wrong.

The authorities brought them into a private room and opened said luggage. They were both surprised and suspicious as they went through the contents: in one of the bags they found the clothes from both of the guys... in the other one, the things that made them think something was not normal. The luggage was full of cans of instant soup. The airport personnel asked why they would carry something so cheap, something they would surely be able to buy anywhere... they simply replied: "We don't have enough money to buy food in Spain."

Around this time he got married and soon after, his first and only daughter was born. This new event, which is usually one of the happiest experiences for a couple, came with its own complications. His daughter was born with a condition which has kept her unable to speak, walk and use her arms properly. Her mental abilities are those of a toddler, even though she is already 15. She cannot speak, she cannot take care of herself and will never be able to live an independent life.

For many years Edgar and his wife have worked and tried to find ways to support her daughter and keep the house expenses under control. Unfortunately, in a country like Guatemala, there are only a few organisations which can help, and there is no insurance to pay treatments, medicine and other necessary items. It has been really hard, to say it lightly. Edgar, however, has always been an incredibly positive man, whose happiness and kindness can really make your day shine. He will smile as he sees you and ask how you are doing, without complaining or making you feel like he is out of hope.

And here is where the whole story becomes so difficult, that I only dare to share it with those who have read this far: his wife became seriously ill some time ago. Doctors performed many exams and tried different treatments, but were unable to identify what she had. It was only a few months ago that they got the answer: Lupus.

Most of us don´t even know what Lupus is, let alone know someone who suffers from it. And this new situation put yet another burden on Edgar´s family´s story. Even after all this, he spoke of life as being the way it is and accepting what could come. Sadly, as if things weren´t hard enough, what came was the death of his wife a few days ago.

Now, as a single father of a completely-dependant daughter, uncertain about the future and with a job that offers little in the way of economical development, it´s hard to think what tomorrow might bring.

And yet, the last time we spoke, faithful to his convictions and love for life, all he could say was: "I accept what happened and will find a way. There is no other way."

So... here we are, trying to find some answers to ease his current state as much as we can. There are no words that can lighten the pain, there are few things we can do from so far... the next best thing we can try is to help him cover some of the costs he has incurred in: The funeral, the house, electricity, his working materials, food... and his daughter´s treatments and medicine still have to be paid for.

Therefore I ask you, dear reader, to see if the things you have read and the idea of helping move you into action.

He will probably never be able to personally thank you, but the difference you can make in his life will not go unnoticed and I assure you that we will forever be grateful.

A donation, sharing this story and link... anything you can do is highly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your help.