Imagine a family of four: a father, a mother and two young children, aged about 6. They live in a small rented room in a deprived area, an old house they inherited but which is in a state of disrepair. The walls are covered with old, peeling wallpaper with visible damp, painted in dull, sad colours. The floor is covered with torn and discoloured linoleum, with planks creaking at every step, cold and unwelcoming!

At the centre of this frail existence is the father, in his late 40s, a man who was once perhaps full of vigour, but is now worn down by illness. He suffers from a debilitating chronic condition, a serious illness that keeps him bed-ridden most of the time, a health problem that prevents him from physical exertion. His body is weak, pale, with sunken eyes and an expression of pain and helplessness. He spends most of his days in bed, with limited strength even for simple activities, dependent on his wife's help for the most basic needs. Hope for a better future seems to have faded in the shadow of his illness.

At his side, with admirable strength and devotion, stands his mother, aged around 35. Her face bears the signs of chronic fatigue and constant worry. Although she would like with all her heart to work to provide a decent living for her family, reality is a constraint. She has to be by her sick husband's side at all times, providing care and support. At the same time, she is the mother of two young children, big-eyed and inquisitive, but in simple and perhaps slightly worn out clothes, with a burst of energy typical of her age, but sometimes with a shadow of anxiety in her eyes, sensing the heavy atmosphere in the house. She divides her time between helping her husband out of bed, preparing the modest food they have, making sure the children are fed, clothed and, as far as possible, happy.

Their home reflects the constant struggle for survival. The furniture is the bare essentials, a creaky old bed, a worn sofa with stains, a small table with mismatched chairs. Children's toys are few and simple, often made or received from others. The shelves are almost empty, a sign of the constant lack of supplies. There is no kitchen, they have to prepare food outside or in the same room where they live using an old stove!

Family income is practically non-existent. With no possibility for the father to work, and with the mother having to stay at home to look after him and the children, the dependence on the occasional help of relatives or kind-hearted people is total. Every day is a struggle to put something on the table, pay the minimal bills and cope with unexpected expenses, which in their case quickly become major crises.

Children feel the constant tension, even as parents try to protect them. They see the sadness in mum's eyes and the helplessness in dad's. Sometimes they have to understand why they can't have the toys or clothes other children have, or why meals are so simple and repetitive. Yet amid the hardships, there is a strong bond of affection and support in this family. The mother encourages her children and supports her husband with infinite patience, and the children in turn surround their father with love and innocence.

This family is not asking for pity, just a chance to get through this difficult time. A helping hand could give the father access to extra medical care, provide the children with a healthier diet and reduce the enormous financial burden on the mother's shoulders. Every donation, however small, would be a ray of hope, a sign that they are not forgotten and that there are people who care. By helping this family, you are not only giving them material help, but you are restoring their dignity and hope for a better future.

better future.