Off to visit a patient who could not come to the clinic, the social worker and I  arrived finding no one home.  Since in Canilla there are often patients waiting for their evaluation. we decided to try another person on our list. The social worker attempted to call the next patient, but no one answered. We decided we would go to the home anyway.

The trip led us through a cattle gate and down a mountain road with some beautiful views. Arriving at the house, I did not know who awaited my evaluation. We had talked about so many patients during the day that by the time we got to the afternoon house visits, I just followed.

When I saw the young lady (we will call her Elaine), sitting motionless in a chair, I knew which patient we had come to see. Elaine, now 21, explained how during her second pregnancy at 18, she started falling frequently. Three years later, she has decreased vision, difficulty breathing, speaking and eating, and has lost a lot of strength. The doctors do not know what is happening, but she is waiting to see a neurologist. I suspect some kind of muscular dystrophy. Getting an accurate diagnosis may prove difficult, and even if she does, it may not change much about her life. Time will tell.

Elaine can walk, but it is difficult. When I attempted to test her strength, she couldn’t resist me at all. Understanding her speech and watching her breath were difficult. Even more difficult was hearing her story.

Her husband abandoned her and their two children when he saw what was happening, leaving her with her mom and some other family members. They struggled to make ends meet before he left and with three extra mouths to feed, life is difficult. Elaine wants to help but cannot.

Elaine is a fighter. Despite the physical, emotional and psychological toll she says she will fight. We’ve encouraged her to keep moving and doing all she can until we know what the doctors say. In the meantime, we continue to pray and learn from Elaine’s example.

Elaine’s story is difficult, but in and through it, she has hope and a determination to persevere.