Across Borders
By Pedro Acevedo, Internal Communications
The complications of having no choice but to leave home to care for your health can reach new heights when the journey becomes international. Suddenly, you may not just leave your home or family behind, but your entire culture. Such is the case for Natalia Rivero, a Mexican citizen who has had to leave her country multiple times to receive life-saving treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Her journey began seven years ago in her native Mexico, where she was diagnosed with lung disease and told that she would need extensive treatment and, ultimately, a lung transplant. After a lot of research, she determined that the Mayo Clinic, one of the largest health organizations in the United States, would give her one of the best chances for a successful outcome. However, her diagnosis brought along a hefty price tag, and her health insurance had depleted by the time she was ten. Thankfully, the community rallied around her and her story, and her family fundraised over a million dollars to cover treatment, a transplant and postoperative medicines. This treatment showed promise, so doctors at the clinic decided to put the transplant on hold.
Natalia Rivero
“I thank Open Arms with all my heart for the great opportunity.”
That was six years ago. Today, Natalia’s health has unfortunately deteriorated, and she will need to go ahead with the lung transplant. Due to inflation and price adjustments, however, the money she raised back then would no longer be enough to cover everything, at least not including her accommodations in Jacksonville during the procedure and her recovery. Luckily, Natalia and her medical team connected with Open Arms, and she was able to be placed in a home. “I thank Open Arms with all my heart for the great opportunity. You have given us, my mother and me, a
chance to stay at this lovely apartment in Jacksonville,” said Natalia. “The help you are giving us is really valuable, as I wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of living in the US otherwise. We are deeply grateful.” Even though Natalia is currently undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL, she took the time to send Open Arms a letter showing her appreciation for allowing her health, concluding with a single statement: “You are my heroes.”
Woodhollow, Jacksonville, FL
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