I’m raising this fundraiser for my family friend Beto, who is currently hospitalized after suffering a stroke that caused him to fall in the park. He is now working with specialists at a hospital in Xela to understand the extent of the damage and determine the best path forward, but right now there is still so much uncertainty in the days ahead.

I first knew Beto as a child, when he was the Spanish teacher for me and my family. We would gather around his kitchen table for lessons and enjoy the delicious food prepared by his wife, Ruth. Those memories speak to the kind of person Beto is: a beloved husband, father, and grandfather whose life has been rooted in service to others. He is a professor in Guatemala, opened a school in Godinez, and is very active in the Catholic Church in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala.

At this moment, Beto’s family is spending their time at the hospital by his side as he moves in and out of alertness, waiting to learn more about the extent of the brain damage in the coming days. Along with the heartbreak of this situation, they are also facing the financial burden of medical care they do not currently have the funds to cover.

Beto is in need of a pacemaker, medications, and further testing. Donations will help cover current hospital costs for testing, medication, and his hospital stay, easing some of the immediate financial pressure on his family so they can focus on being with him during this difficult time.

If you are able to help, any contribution would mean so much. Please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser to support Beto and his family as they face the days ahead.