Over the last 9 months I have been working with the Maya Heritage Community Project as part of my graduate research work and Peace Corps Fellowship. We have created a healthcare toolkit composed of language and cultural tools. We wrote a diabetes and prenatal education script and now we are working on translating it into 4 Maya languages, adding audio as well as several photos of the Maya people. The toolkit also includes key medical terms, herb charts and other various "tools" to help improve patient-provider communication.
Check out my shoes with the Traje!?!? (picture by Chris Smith)
Today was the fun part of the work- picture taking! The women and children came dressed in their tradition trajes that back home in Guatemala, they would have worn on a daily basis. The families are soooo beautiful, kind and happy and I think the photos capture a bit of that happiness. It is always such a treat to spend time with the community.
My co-worker Mandy and I have been working with one family in particular for months now. Back in November the 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia and Mandy and I took turns helping them commute to and from the hospital. The horrible news would be devastating for any family but it is especially hard for immigrant families with dispersed family members and limited income. Maria (name changed) is doing well now but has lost most of her hair and frequently says she has pain in her legs, hands and belly. "Ya" she often says in K'iche' meaning pain. Maria's father has to drive her to the hospital once a week for 2 years to give Maria chemotherapy and yet despite the difficult diagnosis, the family continues full of optimism. They are gracious and happy people that I truly admire.
Maria huddled up in my sweatshirt to shield the wind.
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