Gloria needs an operation.

Gloria is 10yrs old. She is in 3rd grade in Panajachel.
She has a large swelling on her neck. Her mother has taken her to the hospital and they have diagnosed that she has a Branquiel Cyst. I am not sure what the correct name for this is in English.
The cyst is very painful, she has had it for two weeks. The mother assumed that she was just a swelling from a normal sore throat. But one day she developed a fever that would not go down and the mother took her to the hospital.

The mother has spent $76 already on medicines and cannot afford to pay more.
Gloria's father left home 5 years ago to live with another woman. He now has another family. He does not give the mother any money. The mother asked him for help with the operation but he has refused to help.
The mother, also named Gloria, 46yrs old works as a domestic in a private home. She earns $10 US per week.
She has not been to school and does not know how to read or write.
Gloria has 3 brothers and 4 sisters.
They are:

Silvia is 29yrs old. She is married with 7 children. She went to school till 2nd grade.
Jonaton is 27yrs old. He is single and works as a builders assistant. He earns $33 US per week.
He lives with the mother and helps a little with the costs.
Marisol is 25yrs old. She is married with one child. Marisol went to school till 9th grade.
Rony is 21yrs old. He is married with one child. He went to school till 3rd grade.
Aura is 19yrs old. She is single , she went to school till 6th grade. She helps the mother at home and has not been able to find work recently.
Sandra is 15yrs old. She is in 5th grade.
Jorge is 13yrs old. He is in 4th grade.

They rent the house they live in.
They are paying $67 US per month.
It is made of cement block.
It has a tin roof and cement floor.
It has two rooms and an outside kitchen made of wooden planks.
They have a wood burning stove.
They do not have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have electricity connected and pay $20 US per month.
They have two chairs and one table.
They do not have a closet. They keep their clothes in a cardboard box.
They have two beds with mattresses. Two people sleep in each bed.
The rest of the family sleep on the floor on straw mats.

The hospital has said that this operation will cost $2,500 US. But we feel that this is very expensive and will try to get this price lowered with the social worker. In the meantime, we would like to be able to raise the funds to send Gloria to a private clinic to be assessed. This visit would cost approx. $50 US. including tests etc. If anyone can help Gloria with this amount of money to be able to go to the clinic and have tests, it would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to make a donation to help Gloria, please go to our website at www.mayanfamilies.org and donate through Paypal , or you can send a check to Mayan Families, P.O. Box 52, Claremont, NC. 28610
All donations are tax deductible.