Maynor is a 9 year old boy who is forced to come to our town, Panajachel, on Fridays and Sundays to beg on the street. When he was two years old he was burnt badly in a house fire, losing most of his foot and badly scarring his legs. He was sent to the public hospital and was treated for a few months, but then he was released and hasn't had any medical care or check-ups since then.
I didn't know Maynor until a couple who was vacationing in Pana brought him to our office. They spoke very little Spanish but saw Maynor begging on the street and wanted to help him. His burn looked infected, with white pus oozing out of it and flies swarming around it.
Maynor spoke mostly Kachiquel, a Mayan language, so we had to have our staff translate from Kachiquel to Spanish and then I translated from Spanish to English. Maynor explained to us that his burns hurt him and he is unable to walk or even stand on both feet because he can't put any pressure on his burnt foot. He told us he would like to go to a doctor since it had been 7 years since he was last treated.
Eventually one of our staff was able to get Maynor's dad's phone number and called to ask him to come to the office. His father looked young, with a back pack full of goods to sell on the street. He explained Maynor's situation and assured us that he was doing fine. We shared our concern over the infection and the fact that Maynor hasn't been to a doctor in 7 years, but the father told us Maynor was healthy and happy.
This began a long conversation with Maynor's dad where we asked if we could please send him to a specialist in the capital who treated burns and could possibly even give Maynor a prosthetic to be able to walk. The father didn't respond. So we assured him we would cover all expenses. The father was hesitant. So we even offered to pay the father a small sum of money to make up for his "losses" as Maynor wouldn't be able to beg on the street the day he went to the doctor. The father finally agreed and they left, saying they'd come back the next week for Maynor's appointment.
That was the last time we saw or heard from the father. We've called numerous times, but he never answers. We can't take Maynor to the capital without parental supervision. And his father is obviously more interested in the money his son makes begging as a cripple than the health or wellbeing of his child.
I still see Maynor on Fridays every once in a while, sitting on a curb begging for coins. I've stopped and talked to him and he tells me that his dad is in agreement to take him to the doctor but just not right now. Maybe in the future. Maybe. But given other similar experiences, probably not.
It deeply saddens me to know that Maynor could be treated medically if only his father would give his support. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon here. We've offered to pay parents to allow their children to go to school, but they decline. Children begging or selling on the street often make more money than adults, so parents want to keep their kids on the street as long as possible. Education and health care don't bring in immediate cash for the family. And when a family is desperate and hungry they only think about today and making enough money for the next meal. They often don't have the luxury of thinking and planning for years to come. This happens a lot here and sadly the children suffer most.
Eventually one of our staff was able to get Maynor's dad's phone number and called to ask him to come to the office. His father looked young, with a back pack full of goods to sell on the street. He explained Maynor's situation and assured us that he was doing fine. We shared our concern over the infection and the fact that Maynor hasn't been to a doctor in 7 years, but the father told us Maynor was healthy and happy.
This began a long conversation with Maynor's dad where we asked if we could please send him to a specialist in the capital who treated burns and could possibly even give Maynor a prosthetic to be able to walk. The father didn't respond. So we assured him we would cover all expenses. The father was hesitant. So we even offered to pay the father a small sum of money to make up for his "losses" as Maynor wouldn't be able to beg on the street the day he went to the doctor. The father finally agreed and they left, saying they'd come back the next week for Maynor's appointment.
That was the last time we saw or heard from the father. We've called numerous times, but he never answers. We can't take Maynor to the capital without parental supervision. And his father is obviously more interested in the money his son makes begging as a cripple than the health or wellbeing of his child.
I still see Maynor on Fridays every once in a while, sitting on a curb begging for coins. I've stopped and talked to him and he tells me that his dad is in agreement to take him to the doctor but just not right now. Maybe in the future. Maybe. But given other similar experiences, probably not.
It deeply saddens me to know that Maynor could be treated medically if only his father would give his support. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon here. We've offered to pay parents to allow their children to go to school, but they decline. Children begging or selling on the street often make more money than adults, so parents want to keep their kids on the street as long as possible. Education and health care don't bring in immediate cash for the family. And when a family is desperate and hungry they only think about today and making enough money for the next meal. They often don't have the luxury of thinking and planning for years to come. This happens a lot here and sadly the children suffer most.
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