Pedro and Josefina’s plight came to our attention about a year ago. Living in a tiny room attached to their son’s house, they were virtually abandoned and uncared for. Although they have several children, only one daughter really cares for them and she lives 8 hours away in southern Mexico. Next door to them lives another son who is a drug addict.
Pedro suffers from a heart condition that makes him very weak. The doctors tell him he doesn’t have long to live. His wife, Josefina, has advanced diabetes and became blind 15 years ago as a result of the disease. Their children don’t care about them apart from letting them live in the cramped room. “The only ones who visit us are three of our little grandkids,” Pedro sadly told us.
Once Pedro went to a doctor’s appointment at the hospital. A nurse came into the examining room with a hypodermic needle in her hand ready to give him a shot. “Whoa, wait a minute,” Pedro yelped. “What are you doing? I haven’t been seen by the doctor yet.” “Be quiet and let me do my job,” the nurse retorted and proceeded to give Pedro the injection. “I felt like millions of ants were running through my arm, and I fell to the ground,” related Pedro. The nurse realized her mistake and fled out of the room. When the doctor came in, Pedro was on the floor, his body wracked with convulsions. They rushed him to emergency and treated him for the reaction he was having to the medicine.
During this whole ordeal Pedro’s main fear was for Josefina. “Who is going to take care of my wife? My children won’t care for her.” Finally he was released and sent on his way. Upon
returning home he found Josefina still in bed, having soiled her clothes and sheets, because her sons and daughters wouldn’t care for her. Pedro wept as he told us how heartbroken he was to find his beloved wife in that condition. “My heart is so weak and I live in fear because when I die, who is going to take care of my wife?”
Pedro has strong faith, though, and loves reading Scripture. Our weekly visits are an answer to his prayers he says, because besides bringing groceries and fellowship, we have assured him that we will keep taking care of his dear Josefina after he dies.
Pedro suffers from a heart condition that makes him very weak. The doctors tell him he doesn’t have long to live. His wife, Josefina, has advanced diabetes and became blind 15 years ago as a result of the disease. Their children don’t care about them apart from letting them live in the cramped room. “The only ones who visit us are three of our little grandkids,” Pedro sadly told us.
Once Pedro went to a doctor’s appointment at the hospital. A nurse came into the examining room with a hypodermic needle in her hand ready to give him a shot. “Whoa, wait a minute,” Pedro yelped. “What are you doing? I haven’t been seen by the doctor yet.” “Be quiet and let me do my job,” the nurse retorted and proceeded to give Pedro the injection. “I felt like millions of ants were running through my arm, and I fell to the ground,” related Pedro. The nurse realized her mistake and fled out of the room. When the doctor came in, Pedro was on the floor, his body wracked with convulsions. They rushed him to emergency and treated him for the reaction he was having to the medicine.
During this whole ordeal Pedro’s main fear was for Josefina. “Who is going to take care of my wife? My children won’t care for her.” Finally he was released and sent on his way. Upon
returning home he found Josefina still in bed, having soiled her clothes and sheets, because her sons and daughters wouldn’t care for her. Pedro wept as he told us how heartbroken he was to find his beloved wife in that condition. “My heart is so weak and I live in fear because when I die, who is going to take care of my wife?”
Pedro has strong faith, though, and loves reading Scripture. Our weekly visits are an answer to his prayers he says, because besides bringing groceries and fellowship, we have assured him that we will keep taking care of his dear Josefina after he dies.