Casa Valentina
Casa Valentina in Culiacan, Sinaloa
Los Cabos Children’s Foundation – Amigos de los Niños – Fundación Valentina
Home for Children Afflicted with Cancer sent from BCS to the Hospital Pediatrico de Sinaloa
Director of Pediatric Oncology, Dr. Eduardo Altamirano
On Saturday August 11, 2007 over 100 people joined together to celebrate the opening of Casa Valentina in Culiacan Mexico, a home away
from home for the children suffering from cancer and their mothers who have been sent to the Sinaloa Pediatric Hospital from Baja
California Sur through the help of Los Cabos Children’s Foundation and Amigos de los Niños.
On July 29th I made a trip to Culiacan to visit our five children who are being cared for by Dr. Altamirano in Culiacan at no cost though the new Mexican Seguro Popular of which Eduardo is a director for the zone. This is the closest place to send young cancer victims for treatment; nothing is available for their care in BCS. While there, Eduardo introduced me to Mrs. Cruz Elizabeth Lopez Rojo, or as everyone from the hospital referred to her, 'La Mama de Valentina'. Elizabeth has lost three children to cancer, Valentina passed away on May 23rd 2007 after an attempt to save her life though a bone marrow transplant, her twin sister had already gone before her.
When I met Elizabeth a month had passed since the last of her unbearable losses, but the doctors told me how she came every day to the hospital to help other mothers and children who were going through the same experiences what she had much too much painful experience of herself.
As we all had breakfast together, Eduardo and I spoke of the need for housing for our children and their families, some were living in cramped quarters with family or friends, others renting diminutive and poorly kept rooms to be able to stay close to their babies during chemotherapy and surgeries. The children also were able to leave the hospital when their treatments allowed, but to take them into overcrowded, unsanitary places was hardly helping their hard won medical treatment to succeed. Cancer is a terrible equalizer, whether poor or middle income families, it cost way too much to do it all on your own.
I only stayed one day, but over the course of the next week, Elizabeth and a group of her family and friends had found the answer to what she says little Valentina has asked her to do for others, she would start a foundation to create a home for these patients while they stayed in Culiacan.
A house was rented and renovated through funds from Los Cabos Children’s Foundation; many things were donated when people were made aware of the need. In two months time the house has been transformed by loving hands into a home with birds, fish, plants and a child friendly atmosphere to help in the treatment of these children with cancer, and alleviate the mother's worry and pain a little by having a safe place to stay.
The plan for this matched effort will be carried on until the BCS patients have their own health care here at home through the plans for Pediatric Oncology care being carried out by LCCF, the BCS Secretariat of Health, and a 'Twining Program' of St. Jude of Memphis, TN of which the Hospital Pediatrico de Sinaloa's Oncology Program with Dr. Altamirano have been part of for the last fifteen years. The good people of Culiacan and Fundación Valentina will take over the growth and future of Casa Valentina as time moves on.
The Pediatric Oncology staff has lent helping hands at every moment, Dr. Altamirano's Secretary, Angelita, will be responsible for the daily administration of the home, and Ishmael, a cancer survivor and patient of Eduardo's from twenty years ago, will be the handy man.
In Los Cabos, Rebecca Chavez of Amigos de los Niños keeps a strong and loving hand on the patients being accepted for care in Culiacan, she plans their travel and helps with all the family emotions that are so raw, hurt and scared through the first part of this illness, they are soothed by her take over and help attitude which helps the families recuperate some of their strength for what is coming. She makes them strong and lets them cry while getting them packed and ready.
Words are not enough to express the emotion during the ceremony as 'La Mama de Valentina' spoke of her feelings. Professor Macario, who teaches school classes to the cancer patients in the hospital, was overcome by emotion as he spoke also.
Then the young priest who blessed the home said what we all know to be true though our own experience with these children. When we help these young ones who suffer so, we can indeed look directly into the face of Christ as we act to serve them in their suffering. How could we ask for more of a blessing?
Testimonials where heard from cancer victims, a lovely young lady who had lost a leg; her remaining toenails painted in bright glitter to attest to her fighting spirit and the help she received to overcome this loss and restore her spirit. A young mother who came from afar for her child's treatment spoke emotionally about what it meant to them to have a place to stay, and then beautiful Guadalupe, a twelve year old who wants to become a pediatric oncologist when she wins her battle with cancer and grows up.
The faces of all those in attendance were full of emotion and wonder that all this had been done in two months and that it had such a full force of energy driving it forward, and the realization of the terrible need that sparked the action as they heard the stories.
The Governor and Sra. Aguilar were out of town, but sent their family, friends, DIF Directors and the heads of the States IAP organizations as well as the wife of the Mayor of Culiacan to celebrate with us. Everyone was amazed by the work we are doing and many promises of help and support were made with open hearts. It was truly an amazing day. I thanked them for us for being such wonderful neighbors.
We all know the phrase "there are no coincidences," and have been astounded by the things that have happened, Dr. Altamirano often uses the phrase now too and laughs with great pleasure, a lot like Tom. His staff is wonderful, the nurses all promised to help and teach nurses from Los Cabos to learn to care for these children, one showed her enthusiasm to relocate here when her oncology training is finished.
And the tale continues because all of you care! Thank you!
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