On this last day of the year, we want to express our profound gratitude to you, for the way you show up when times are difficult, reminding us all what it means to be part of a community. Your ongoing support not only sustains artisans worldwide, it also enables us to assist people in need. On Giving Tuesday, you helped us in a very direct way — and we want to share an update.
After Miguel Jr.’s life-threatening accident, his step-mother, Susana Valadez, mobilized all her efforts to raise money for his surgeries and his convalescence.
Susana writes:
"We are so thankful that Miguel survived the terrible accident that damaged his lungs and paralyzed this extraordinary man from the waist down. The accident that broke his body, and our hearts, happened in early October, but on Dec.12th, he was finally able to return home from the faraway hospital in Guadalajara. His spinal cord surgery cost over $6500 USD, which we were miraculously able to pull together with loans and generous donations to cover that huge amount.
The outpouring of love from people like yourselves helped us piece together the funds needed for his surgery, medicines and the care that saved his life. We are now providing the after care needed to help him restore not only his badly damaged body, but to strengthen his resolve to confront whatever challenges are ahead.
His courageous, strong, indomitable spirit, and your kind help, will make it possible for him to continue his role as a highly esteemed Huichol spiritual practitioner, a valued community leader and most of all, a beloved husband and dad."
For all the challenges this year has presented, we continuously discover rays of hope and kindness. May 2021 bring us all peace, joy, and love. |
