Carlitos is a deep, black-eyed boy, at his young age bravely facing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
He is 2 years and six months old, is the 4th of 5 siblings, his parents Carlos Patzan Top and Maria Silvia Cotzajay Xiquim with only 27 years of age each, formed a big family of 7 people, dad, mom, Elvis Danilo, 7, Herbert Josué 6, Karla Mairyn 4, Blanca Abigail 1, and Carlitos, 2, of Kaqchiquel descent.
They live approximately 30 kilometers from the capital of Guatemala City, in Caserío Los Ajvix, Aldea Cerro Alto, San Juan Sacatepéquez, their predominant language is Kaqchiquel. Don Carlos is a farmer and works on a farm, earning an approximate salary of Q 1300.00 or $ 168.00 per month, the equivalent of $ 5.63 per day. Doña Maria works at home and cares for her 5 children.
"The Children of the Gunpowder"
As those engaged in the manufacture of fireworks in the communities of San Juan Sacatepéquez and San Raymundo are known from an early age, they receive a negligible payment per meter of fireworks, which increases the risk of dying from eventual explosions.
In addition to their living condition, they must face Carlitos’ disease, it all started in November 2019 when Carlitos presented bruises all over his body, they noticed that his skin color changed between white and yellow, an extremely unusual pallor, he lost weight and slept all the day long He was transferred to the National Pediatric Oncology Unit –UNOP-, which is the only center specialized in pediatric cancer in Guatemala. Today Carlitos receives a holistic treatment at no cost, they must leave the house at 3:30 in the morning to be in the hospital at 6:00 am . Carlitos and his family find themselves fighting one more battle ... the fight against cancer. Your faith, hope and love strengthens them more every day!