One of my dearest friends, Helena Sarinana, needs help. I don’t have the financial means to do it on my own, but together, with the kindness of friends and strangers, I know we can make a huge difference in her life. Please read her story.

 

On August 2nd,2021, Helena and her mother, Nelly Banda, traveled to Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico for a spiritual retreat.   Traveling with her was her husband, Richard, and 3 year-old son, Santiago.  

 

A few days after arriving in Mexico, the entire group began to get sick. First Helena, then Richard, then her little boy, and finally her mom. Helena and Richard tested positive for Covid on August 9th.  Santiago had a fever that night, going to the next morning. And her mom started with a fever on August 10th.  Of course, this meant they had to quarantine and couldn’t travel back to California. The additional expenses started racking up at this point.

 

While both Helena, Richard, and their little boy got better in the quarantine, Helena’s mom did not. She had trouble breathing and just didn’t improve. After trying everything under the sun, every home remedy, every medication available, they grew desperate. They knew they had to get Helena’s mom back to the USA for treatment, or she would die. It took moving heaven and earth, but on August 30th, they finally found an ambulance that would take her to a border town, close to McAllen, Texas. From there, more kind strangers (friends of friends) helped bring her over the border and to the nearest hospital.  Richard took their son and flew back to California, while Helena followed her mom to Texas.

 

Currently, her mom is still in the ICU at Mission Regional Hospital in Mission, TX, in critical but stable condition. They’ve had to intubate her, puncture and drain her lung, and administer a ton of medication. Helena remains in Mission, TX, staying at the most affordable Airbnb she could find close to the hospital. She has been advised by the medical staff not to go too far, as her mom’s condition is still critical. She is able to see her every day, for 2 hours. During those 2 hours, she talks to her, sings to her, encourages her, and prays for her. Her mom’s oxygen levels are improving every day; it’s working.

 

As you can imagine, the travel expenses have been significant: Hotel, Airbnb, car rental, medications, food, etc.  Richard is recently on Unemployment, and Helena is a Stay-at-Home mom, so income is next to nothing right now. (She used savings to go to Mexico…but with the extended Covid stay, that’s all gone now.) She will resume her work search as soon as possible, but right now needs a financial miracle.

 

If you could possibly help with any amount, please help. Even a few dollars will make a difference, because it all adds up. Also, most importantly, please pray for Helena’s mom. She’s not out of the woods yet, and we are believing for a miraculous and complete healing.

 

 

Please share this with everyone you can. The more people we can reach, the more people that could possibly help, and the more prayers that will be lifted up. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.