Yadira came to the U.S. from Cuba, determined to build a better life. She worked hard to become self-sufficient and was doing well. When her sister arrived, they were both settling in until her sister suddenly faced a series of devastating health crises. Her sister had a stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure, leaving Yadira as her full-time caregiver. With no other family here, Yadira had to stop working to take care of her. Her sister lost her ability to speak and now relies on a feeding tube and catheter.
In desperate need, Yadira reached out to us for help, overwhelmed by the situation. Our team immediately stepped up. Eliza and Abeer from our Refugee Support Services (RSS) went to the hospital to provide immediate relief—clothing, toiletries, and, most importantly, advocacy. They made sure the hospital had what was needed to care for Yadira’s sister and ensured she was treated with dignity.
Eliza worked tirelessly to get both Yadira and her sister’s Medicaid and food stamps reinstated. Claire, another team member, found a contact who generously donated a bed, as Yadira’s home didn’t have one for her sister. Our team also arranged for two months of rent assistance through the Refugee Emergency Assistance (REA) program to ease the financial burden Yadira was facing.
Recently, Yadira and her sister came by the office to pick up the bed and receive the rental support. Despite everything they’ve been through, they left feeling hopeful, no longer carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders alone. Yadira’s sister is showing signs of improvement, though she still faces surgery for her kidneys and heart.
Through the combined efforts of our team—across different departments and roles—Yadira and her sister no longer feel helpless. They now have hope, knowing that they are surrounded by a community that cares deeply for them.
This is the power of community and the hard work that our Della Lamb team puts into every client we serve. Thank you for making stories like Yadira’s possible.