By María José Montiel Castillo
For Maria Luisa Cantillano, 77, and Paula Cantillano, 74, getting to Clinica Verde means walking two hours from the rural community of Saguateque. “We go very slowly because of our arthriits,” they say. “We go over ravines, we go down hill and we climb up.”
They always come to Clinica Verde together, as they have 6 times since the clinic opened. “We come from nothing and here they care for us,” they said. “It’s different here.”
Maria Luisa and Paula heard about Clinica Verde from others in their community who told them the clinic “takes good care of you.” They say there is no medicine where they’re from, so the only option is to walk.
Clinica Verde’s Dr. Haldam Varela said that Maria Luisa has rheumatoid arthritis and headaches. Paula has rheumatoid arthritis, lower back problems and gastritis. “These are illnesses with symptoms that can come and go, but the Castillanos always come for the same reasons,” said Dr. Varela. Paula said she fell from a hammock and believes this is the cause for her back problem, although Dr. Varela believes there are other factors.
The lives of the Cantillano sisters in Saguateque is simple. They live in homes close to one another, with a few family members. Maria Luisa lives with a nephew and two nieces. She has been a widow for 8 years, which she says makes her feel vulnerable. Her four children live in Managua. “They send me money from there,” she says with resignation. Her 20-year-old nephew, Gamaliel Rojas, is the only one left to care for her.
Maria Luisa’s older sister Paula lives with her husband, who is 75. “He’s a very old man now,” she says with a smile. Paula had 12 children, 4 who died. Of the 8 who survived, only one lives with her. The rest have left for other villages or the mountains. “The man has to travel far to work,” she says of her sons. Mary Luisa and Paula stay home and cook for their families.
The Cantillano sisters say they will continue to come to Clinica Verde, despite having to walk far and traveling a river that rises and falls. They say their experiences at the clinic have always been positive. “Whenever we come, they always treat us well,” the sisters agree. “We prefer Clinica Verde.”
NOTE: We at Clinica Verde know that transportation is a big issue for many of our rural patients. With that in mind, we are trying to raise $37,000 to purchase a van. If you’d like to donate to help – or know anyone who might have a vehicle that would work for our purposes, email: susan@clinicaverde.org
The Cantillano sisters at Clinica Verde.