STANDING AS A COMMUNITY FOR ALLAN

Behind every design at Nena & Co. are the hands of our artisans, their stories, and their families. Today, one of the most beloved members of our production team in Guatemala is facing the fight of his life.

If you have ever interacted with our team, you likely know Allan. He is the definition of pure joy—always helpful, filled with uplifting energy, and carrying a smile that lights up any room.

Today, we are pausing our usual stories of textiles to ask our community to come together to save a life.

THE BEAUTIFUL NEWS AND THE SUDDEN STORM

To understand Allan’s journey, you have to understand the resilience of his family. Last year, Allan and his wife suffered a devastating, heartbreaking loss when they lost their first baby. It was a dark time, but this year brought a wave of profound hope: his wife is currently seven months pregnant with a miracle baby.

They were joyfully preparing their home for new life when, out of nowhere, a sudden crisis struck. One morning, Allan’s body simply collapsed; he could no longer stand or lift himself out of bed.

Urgent medical testing revealed a terrifying reality. Allan was diagnosed with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Understanding the Diagnosis:

  • WHAT IS STAGE 5 KIDNEY FAILURE?

    To understand the gravity of Allan’s situation, it helps to understand the medical reality of this condition.

    The kidneys are the body's natural filtration system. They work 24/7 to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluids from the blood, while regulating blood pressure and producing vital hormones. Stage 5 CKD is the final, most critical phase of kidney disease, also known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). At this stage, a patient's kidneys have lost 85% to 90% of their functional capacity. They can no longer filter toxins, meaning that without immediate intervention, life-threatening waste builds up in the bloodstream rapidly.

  • WHAT IS DIALYSIS?

    Because Allan's kidneys can no longer keep him alive on their own, he must rely on hemodialysis.

    Dialysis is an intense, invasive medical treatment that acts as an external, artificial kidney. During a session, Allan is connected to a machine that draws his blood out, filters it through a high-tech membrane to wash away the toxins, and pumps the clean blood back into his body.

    While dialysis is a literal lifeline, it is not a cure—it is a life-support system. It is physically grueling, leaving patients profoundly exhausted, and it must be done continuously. Allan requires three dialysis sessions every single week just to stay alive.

WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP:
THE FINANCIAL REALITY

  • Medical care of this magnitude comes with an overwhelming financial burden that no single working family can carry alone. In Guatemala, the cost of specialized healthcare must largely be paid out of pocket, and for Allan, the math is staggering:

    Each single dialysis session costs approximately Q2,500 ($325 USD). Facing three sessions a week means his basic survival costs nearly $1,000 USD every single week.

    The upcoming birth of their baby in just two months will cost an estimated Q10,000 ($1,300 USD) for a safe medical delivery and immediate care.

  • When you add it all up, the cost just to keep Allan stable and safely welcome his child over the next three months is $14,000 USD (Q107,500).

    As a dedicated member of our production team, Allan wants nothing more than to work and provide for his family. But the exhausting nature of Stage 5 kidney failure and a grueling three-day-a-week dialysis schedule makes it physically impossible for him to carry this financial weight alone.

OUR GOAL: WEAVING A CIRCLE OF SAFETY AND HOPE

Nena & Co. is stepping in because we refuse to let a member of our family fight this alone. Our goal is to raise $14,000 USD to give Allan, his wife, and their unborn baby a three-month medical runway.

We want to remove the crushing weight of medical debt from their shoulders so that Allan can focus entirely on staying alive, and his wife can focus on a healthy, safe third trimester. We want to ensure that when their miracle baby is born in a few weeks, Allan is there, stable and strong enough, to hold his child.

We are not asking for charity out of pity; we are inviting you into an act of radical community solidarity. A burden that is completely impossible for one family becomes entirely achievable when shared by thousands of hearts across the world.

100% of all funds raised through this campaign will go directly to paying Allan’s medical bills, his ongoing dialysis treatments, and the delivery costs for his wife.