NUMBER FOUR

23 April

Ihesitate even mentioning the subject lest the whole thing comes crashing down again. Here goes anyway. We have found another orthotist. Some weeks back I read about a church in Spring Valley that holds medical clinics in Tijuana, specifically, in Mariano Matamoros. Marge called the pastor and surprise, surprise, he knew of an orthotist! Carlos Valenzuela now becomes our fourth strike at obtaining braces for Maria. He is different from the others in that he returns phone calls. That is a plus. Marge explained to him up front that this will be a paid deal; no more of these empty-headed so-called volunteers. “It will cost in the one thousand dollar range.” A good price at that. “ Do it, do it,” Marge pleased. I will send Maria to my associate in Tijuana and he can examine her before I come down to see her.” The money will come out of her infant building fund at San Rafael.

We all have heard of telephone trees and their function. Ours must look like a telephone vine. Marge and I and Carlos here in SD. Maria at # 35 without a phone, Pablo, the associate in Tijuana. Luz Maria, our godsend friend, and Maria’s neighbor rounds out our communication network. Maria has to be wheeled one-half mile to a payphone. She would never ask Luz to use her phone, this proud, independent lady. Somehow, someway, Marge manages to get the information to the proper people. Today, Maria was to meet Pablo at his shop and then call us tonight for the next move in this never ending crusade in search of the holy grail, new braces. I brought

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Maria another roll of duct tape to tide her over until Pablo can do something with that left brace.

Regardless, we had two nice visits with Maria on Monday and Wednesday. Marge’s dentist had car trouble on Monday and did not show up. She rescheduled for Wednesday. An excellent dentist. Rocio looks more like a college frosh than a highly trained periodontist. Rocio is a lady, but her father wanted a boy, hence Rocio and, not Rosa.

As I have mentioned many times before, Maria cherishes our visit. She is a sociable lady and loves to chat with us about a wide variety of subjects. The language difficulties seem to melt away as we three sit in that dark little room and talk about our experiences.

“I remember all the places you and Magie have taken me, and what foods I ate and what fun I had.” Do you remember the restaurant with the large fireplace and umbrella on the mantle?’’. “Oh yes, it was my first time in such a beautiful place”. We are sad that Maria’s trips to SD will be very limited once she receives her braces. With a lot and a house, she would have a good chance of obtaining a visitor’s visa. Good heavens, INS has to be very careful with people like Maria, she might stay in the US, go on welfare, and abandon her boys! Do you remember her first visit to our house? She was staying the weekend and became very sad and very quiet. I knew what her problem was. “Yes, I miss my boys and worry if they will be ok.” The boys worried also that their mother was not coming back. These American strangers were taking her away for the first time. Those doubts are far behind us now.

Do you know about Mother’s Day? “Yes, we celebrate here but not as much as in the United States. “ Many of the youth from our church are having a fundraiser for you on that day. They will be selling carnations at each mass. All of the money from this will go toward your house. “I know many of the young people already from Easter and last year when they all came to my room. They are so 140

good to me.” Marge has found a source for flowers and has received a good wholesale price on carnations, a Mother’s Day favorite.

Wednesday I brought more duct tape for Maria to bind her legs to the broken braces.” Ten years ago my father sent me a letter telling me to come to Guadalajara to see him. When I arrived he said he was getting me new braces. I told him that they were very expansive and he did not have money for these braces. “Do not worry, daughter, I will sell my goats and then there will be enough money. “That is what he did. His last gift for me, the last of his children. Two years later he died. My mother died one year after my father.”

Confined to her room much of the time. Maria again waits for braces that will allow her to move about and resume her “normal” way of life. Her parents are gone but she has a growing extended family in the US.

Tomorrow, April 25, one year since Felix measured and sketched Maria for new braces.

May 7

Maria was very pleased to see us, our first visit in two weeks. The two visiting ladies quickly left when we came into her room. Maria has made it clear to her few friends that when Magie and David come to see her, we chat in private.” Oh, I am so dirty and the room is very dirty. Jaime has not been here for three days to help me.” I assured her that we come only to see the pretty, Indian girl, the rest is not important. “No, I am not pretty, I am old and my body has been so crippled by polio.” Marge and I argued that she is indeed beautiful and that what lies within her heart and within her mind is so very important. She needed the compliments and accepted them half-heartedly. Then we spent several minutes

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arguing about who is more important in whose life. This always ends in a dead heat.

Jim sent money down to her, Marge brought some beef, and I a few pairs of sneaks and a bag of cosmetics from Diane. She was grateful but it was very evident that these took a distant second place in her priorities. Our presence, our conversation, our friendship, that is what thrills Maria. “ Last week I went to the shoe store in La Mesa, by taxi, to see Pablo, Carlos’ associate. The driver could not find the store and he still charged me $160 pesos, (about $20). This week, with more instructions from you, Magie, I found a store. I talked to my friend at the border and agreed to pay him gas money, $32 pesos. He took me over and Pablo came out to the car to see me. “I cannot fix these braces, Maria, they are beyond help. However, I will switch them so that your left leg will have the support it needs. ‘(her right leg has no feeling and cannot support any weight while the other allows her to stand and walk). Pablo is a very nice man and we had a nice conversation. He walks with a limp. I do not know if he has a brace. He told me that he also was a victim of polio. Both Manuel and Javier had polio medicine when they were babies. I could not take them but a lady in my village took both for a clinic. When we were young, Maria, thousands of children had polio every year in the United States. It is a very cruel disease. “All my life I have been so ashamed of my crippled body. I am afraid to meet new friends. I have been so lonely. “Do you remember those early pages that I wrote and told of the note I sent Maria? Unanswered. We are long past that stage. “With you and Magie I am a no longer ashamed.”

“Next Monday I have an appointment to see Carlos at the La Mesa shoe store. Then he will measure me for the braces.” We know, Maria, and Carlos are called Magie. We will take you to see him. We are very anxious to meet this man, who always returns phone calls and keeps appointments. He told Marge that the braces will 142

take 2-3 weeks to make. All new parts. New feminine shoes. Thanks Alan for returning her shoes! “Please, I want to make lunch for you and Magie on Monday.” Marge was adamant. No, no, no. After you have your new braces we are going out to lunch. Remember, you are buying lunch for us? “Oh, yes, I have not forgotten. We will stay out for a day, ok?” Yes, of course.” In that case, I will buy some beer and chips for you both. “Thank you, Maria”. She wants to show her thanks and comments often about what little she does for us and how much we do for her. We must let her reciprocate at times. It is very important for this proud lady.

Today is Mothers’ Day. Another important day for Maria. As I write this entry, the youth at church is selling carnations after each mass. All the proceeds will go to her house fund. Marge and I are going over soon to help out at the last mass.

After weeks of attempting to contact the dentist for his help with her land, we are finally going to his office on Thursday. Both Marge and Maria thought a personal meeting with Alejandro del Campo would be best. They are right. We will tell Maria on Monday.

Remember, my friend, we are also going out to Mariano to have lunch with Karina and her family. Some Sunday in June, ok? “I have not forgotten, David. I remember everything. Karina is also embarrassed about her leg? Does she have boyfriends?” No, sadly, she has few friends. Another case of so much intelligence and beauty locked up because of a twisted leg. Karina is an excellent cook and loves children. She would make a great wife and mother. Years ago I told Karina that her friends do not see her leg, that it makes no difference to them. My words did not penetrate. Some day perhaps. She knows she has our love and support. (Note: Karina lives in Sinaloa, married with two children. We keep in contact on Facebook.

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