ONE DEAR FRIEND IN PUEBLA IN DESPERATE NEED. 
CAN YOU HELP BY PITCHING IN?

This wonderful man, Jesus Baltazar Sevilla, came to Maui in the early 2000s  to earn money for his family. He left his beloved wife, Silvia, and daughter, Claudia, in Puebla, and worked  here doing hard labor for ten years.

I met Jesus through the Spanish-English language exchange at our college on Maui, and was immediately and continually charmed by his contagious joy for life. His charisma was a key attraction in bringing large groups to the Language Exchange every week, where he would frequently surprise us with his offerings of generosity... homemade cactus salads, tacos of every imaginable kind, or fruits that he had picked.  And after the food there would be the SINGING! He taught us all the words to Las Mañanitas, which we would sing nearly every week to whoever was within a week of their birthday.

After almost 10 years away from Mexico, in 2011 Jesus felt the need to return to Mexico. He had made so many friends on Maui and his departure left a big hole in the hearts of many.  He stayed in touch via email and Facebook, and would call us  on the phone several times a year to give us his blessing.  He is and will always be a special friend, someone who made life more interesting and joyous while he was present, and whose memory inspires us to keep positive and appreciate our many blessings.

Earlier this year I received a call from Jesus´wife, Silvia, to tell me that Jesus was quite sick. Yesterday I was able to speak by phone with his doctor, who gave me the following information: 

1. Jesus has final stage Type 2 Diabetes. His kidneys are failing and he has just begun getting dialysis. He  will need a minimum of 2 dialysis treatments per week for the rest of his life.

2. Jesus and Silvia currently don't have the kind of medical social security that would allow him to get these treatments. They currently applying for it. The doctor said it would likely be two months before they receive coverage.

3. The cost of the  dialysis treatments are 1,300 pesos each, or about 70 dollars. The cost of his weekly insulin is about $50, and there is the cost of transporting him to the doctor in Puebla.


ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU CAN DONATE WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS MAN´S LIFE.  BLESS YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!!!!