Until August 17, 2001, Rocio, then 23 years old, had a normal life. She had a 6-year-old daughter and she was 8 months pregnant. That day she gave birth to a healthy baby girl even though her baby was one month premature. Unfortunately Rocio experienced complications during delivery and an epidural was administered prior to operating. Something went wrong with the epidural and when Rocio was released from the hospital she was paralysed from the waist down. It is expected that she will be paralysed for the rest of her life.

Rocio has been receiving help from Arturo y los Hijos de Dios since October, 2001, but now she needs more than they can currently provide. Her new life conditions have caused many obstacles for Rocio as she’s unable to care for her children and husband as before. Her greatest need right now is medicine. She’s acquired terrible bedsores which must be treated daily with Carrasyn.

We are looking for 10 people who could donate $200 pesos each month, or 20 persons who can donate $100 pesos monthly so that we can help Rocio with her basic needs and provide her with comfort and peace of mind as she watches her two daughters grow.

24 year old Lupita has lived a tragic life. She never knew her father and when she was 8 years old, her mother got involved with another man. When Lupita was 12 years old, this man started to sexually abuse her. Her mother ignored the situation allowing this man to continue to abuse Lupita. When she was 16 years old, she become pregnant from him. Lupita’s mother also bore 3 daughters from this man. About one year after Lupita’s baby was born, another little girl, her mother tired of the situation. Apparently she felt that she was “competing” with Lupita for this man’s attentions. Lupita’s mother abandoned her as well as the 3 little girls she’d had with this man.

Lupita has never had anyone to protect her or to teach her right from wrong so she was vulnerable to this man after her mother abandoned them. He convinced her to stay with him. For 7 years he continued to abuse her both physically and sexually. She bore 3 more children with him, 2 daughters and a son. In May of 2002, Lupita couldn’t take it anymore, and finally rejected the man. He left Lupita, but took with him his son born by Lupita, who is now almost 4 years old.

Lupita has the desire to work, but we feel that she is needed at home with her daughters and sisters who are from 1.5 to 13 years of age. They need the constant presence of an adult to protect and supervise them.

Lupita’s serenity is impressive, she doesn’t seem to have any anger toward this man who stole her life, dignity and childhood from her. All she wants for her future is to be able to take care for and protect her big family to ensure that none of the girls will have to experience what she’s endured.

To provide Lupita and the 6 girls with all they need, we are looking for 30 people who can give $200 pesos each month or 60 people who can donate $100 pesos/month.

Roxana de la Cruz Ramirez

This man’s mental illness is putting Roxana’s life in danger. Obviously she was not happy with the situation, but she felt she didn’t have any other options for finding food, housing, etc. given her physical handicap.

We met Roxana on January 22^nd, 2002. The day after we met her, we put Roxana and her son in a safe place where this man could not find them. Since that day, we’ve been taking care of their basic needs. To continue to provide Roxana with food and shelter we are looking for 15 people to donate $200 pesos each month or 30 people to donate $100 pesos monthly.

Martha is 35 years old and suffered an accident 4 years ago that left her paralyzed. Since that day she’d been living with her 16-year-old daughter in the homes of others. Eventually her hosts would tire of caring for her and she’d have to look for housing elsewhere. She’d moved from several homes these past 4 years. This situation was hard on Martha’s pride because she has such a strong will to recover and move forward with her life. Her accident initially left her paralyzed from the chest down and the doctors claimed that she would remain that way for the rest of her life. Martha’s stubbornness, strong will and fierce efforts through physical therapy have improved her condition so much that she is now only paralyzed from the knees down. This is truly a miracle; the doctors still cannot explain her partial recovery.