The Story of Maria*
Maria first became known to the Agency last July when we were contacted by a Parish nurse from St. Anthony Central Hospital, who informed us that our assistance was desperately needed. Maria was a young Hispanic female with 4 children, ages 20 months to 10 years. She spoke only Spanish. She had been diagnosed with a brain tumor approximately two years prior, around the time of the birth of her youngest son. The physicians at Denver Health Medical Center were treating her.
In February of 2001, Maria had suffered a seizure and stroke that resulted in right-sided paralysis. She was then placed on seizure medication, but there was a mix up in medicines and she suffered another seizure. She had completed all radiation treatments but continued to get chemotherapy, which often left her feeling weak and tired. Her most recent x-ray had been about a month ago and had shown that the size of her tumor had become slightly smaller.
Maria had no extended family living with her in Denver. She was affiliated with St. Dominic’s Parish and had the support of a Stephen minister there. Her children did not share the same biological father, and only the baby’s father was still involved, although he worked long hours and was only rarely available to her. She lived in a poorly kept apartment complex in Northwest Denver, and most her income went to paying rent. Although Maria was not a US citizen, all four of her children were, and her only income was from various welfare programs.
We were called in after Maria had tripped and fractured her leg in a fall, secondary to the paralysis on her right side. She was in a wheelchair, and was unable to stand or transfer without assistance. The eight-year-old daughter and the 10-year-old son were the primary caretakers for the two younger children. They also cleaned the house, cooked the meals and helped their Mama to transfer from the wheelchair to the bed or bathroom. This was a huge concern because of their young ages; additionally they were due to return to school soon and would not be available during the day to help Mama.
The Agency provided evaluation and assessment in addition to a bath bench, a handheld shower and a hospital bed. An R.N. was assigned as Case Manager. We provided a Nursing Assistant three times per week to do laundry, housekeeping and cooking along with personal care for Maria. The Parish nurse recognized that the younger children could not be left alone in Maria’s care at this time, and so assisted us in finding licensed day care while the older children were in school. Dominican Sisters, through the help of our patient assistance fund, the Hill Fund, helped pay for the daycare in this crisis situation.
When Maria’s general health began to decline, there was discussion about what would happen if Maria became further incapacitated. With the help of the Guardianship Alliance, two people were assigned to act in the event that she was unable to act on her own/the children’s behalf.
In August, there were new symptoms: increased edema in her extremities, bowel and bladder incontinence, decreased balance, decreased vision and increased pain in the right side of her face. She experienced periodic episodes of confusion. Due to our concerns that Maria was deteriorating and might need hospitalization, we discussed the involvement of Social Services, for the protection of the children.
In light of the deterioration in Maria’s physical condition, the RN Case Manager accompanied her to the next oncology appointment. Our nurse reported her observations, which indicated a decline in condition. After a thorough examination, Maria was hospitalized for three days for further evaluation and testing. After the testing, she was unable to be discharged home, and so was taken to a sister-in-law’s home. There, one sister-in-law provided care for Maria and the children while the other went to her job; when the other came home, she assumed care for Maria and the children and the other one went to work. Maria continued to be very sick. It was during this time that Maria voiced a desire to return to Mexico to be with her parents and “Auntie” who had raised her.
It was also at this time that Maria expressed concern about some money that she was to get as a result of the pharmacy medication mix up in December. An attorney, Scott F. Reese, with Sawaya, Rose and Sawaya, P.C., worked pro bono with Maria to assure that the money was received prior to her demise, and to assure that the money would go to the care of the children. We then assisted Maria with obtaining the donated services of Benefit Payee Services who would step in and safeguard the money for Maria and her children, which Maria gratefully accepted.
In the meantime, an ex-brother-in-law and sister-in-law living in California, whose own children were raised, came to visit the children and Maria. It was decided that they would take temporary custody until they could formally adopt the children.
Elaborate plans were made several times in an effort to get Maria home to her family in Mexico, at one point even involving the Mexican consulate. Maria was briefly placed in the care of Hospice of Metro Denver, however, once stabilized, she again indicated her desire to go to Mexico and was eventually transported there by car.
Maria died on November 25th, in Durango, Mexico with her family at her side. The children remain with the adoptive parents in California, and are “doing well after an initial adjustment”. For Christmas this year, Dominican Sisters staff and Board members “adopted” Maria’s children and sent them clothing, gift certificates, pictures and other gifts as a reminder of their time here and the love their mother had for them. With your help, and the help of the Stephen minister from St. Dominic’s, the Parish nurse from St. Anthony’s, Denver Health Medical Center, the Guardianship Alliance, Sawaya, Rose and Sawaya, P.C., Benefit Payee Services, Hospice of Metro Denver and our Agency, the story ends as “happily ever after” as possible. Thank you, our dear benefactors, for making this all possible.
*Not her real name.
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