Hey Friends,

While vacationing in Cusco, Peru, we met a 35-year-old local named Emerson on our very first day—and over the course of the week, we formed a truly special bond. From the moment we met him, his warm energy and contagious smile made us feel welcome. His bilingual skills proved incredibly helpful, especially as he negotiated with local vendors on our behalf to get the best products at the best prices.

Emerson also took us off the beaten path to places we never would have discovered on our own. We shared countless meals, drinks, laughs, and unforgettable moments—some of our fondest memories from the entire trip. Early on, we exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch and support each other moving forward.

Emerson is a single dad to a 5-year-old daughter. He currently works as a freelance tour guide while studying at Cusco University to become a licensed professional tour guide. His goal is to find stable employment as a FT Tour Guide with insurance so he can better support his daughter.

My wife and I spent the first four days of our trip with him. For the next five days, we were apart while we completed our trek to Machu Picchu. Emerson still texted us daily to wish us well on our journey. After returning from the trek, we met up again for lunch and some last-minute shopping at a local market before heading back to the U.S.

We had planned to visit Sacsayhuamán together, but as we were walking, we noticed something was off—he kept holding his head and appeared weak. When we asked what was wrong, he told us he had fallen while running two days earlier and hit his head on the concrete. He showed us a two-inch scar near his temple and explained that he had been experiencing severe headaches, blurry vision, and dizziness.

Concerned, my wife (being the nurturing mom she is) insisted we take him to a hospital to get checked for a concussion. Emerson, ever the gracious host, tried to brush it off—clearly more worried about our trip than his own health. He promised he would seek medical attention, but we sensed that the financial burden was a significant barrier to him getting treatment.

I told him to go and get the care he needed, and that I would do what I could to help. So far, he’s paid out of pocket for what he can, but doctors are now recommending a CT scan and possible follow-up treatments, which he simply cannot afford.

This wasn't something he asked for—it's something I feel compelled to do. I’ve started a GoFundMe with the hope of giving back to someone who gave so much to us. The CT scan alone costs 1,200 soles (about $325 USD), and follow-up treatments and medications will likely increase that total. With that in mind, I’ve set the goal at $3,000 USD.

We plan to cover the cost of the scan ourselves, but we’d love to go beyond that to ensure Emerson gets the full care he needs. Any contribution—no matter the amount—will be a blessing to him and his daughter.

Thank you so much for your kindness and consideration.