by Diana Pando
Yolanda Ramirez was excited when her baby was born. When she breastfed her child, she noticed a small bump on her breast. She mentioned it to her doctor, who said it wasn’t something to worry about. However, as time went on, the bump grew and hardened. Yolanda suspected something was wrong. She began to struggle for medical care because she was uninsured.
She finally found a new clinic, and they sent her to get a mammogram and a biopsy. A few weeks later, the clinic called with grim news: she had breast cancer. The doctor made his recommendations for treatment.
“I made my way home feeling fearful and sad about the diagnosis,” recalls Yolanda. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”
During her treatment at the clinic, they referred her to The Resurrection Project’s ELLAS (En la Lucha a Sobrevivir), a support group for Latinas who are survivors or are being treated for breast cancer. They strive to help these women normalize their lives and receive support throughout this very difficult experience. ELLAS was established by women who saw the need for a support group that understands the culture of the Latino community.
Yolanda knew she needed support but was hesitant to attend an ELLAS meeting. “I didn’t know what to expect by attending one of these meetings,” said Yolanda. “I didn’t want to talk about my breast cancer to anyone.”
Yolanda finally decided to call Araceli Lucio, TRP’s Health Advocate, and inquire about attending one of ELLAS’ monthly meetings. Araceli mentioned that they also offered information on available classes, such as leadership formation training, that help participants in their daily and professional lives.
Yolanda attended her first meeting and was surprised by how positive and supportive other breast cancer survivors were. The members of ELLAS shared their stories and inspired Yolanda to keep coming back despite her hesitance. Today, Yolanda has been a member of ELLAS for three years.
“By being part of ELLAS, I gained an extended family and became a Promotora de Salud,” said Yolanda.
She also says that if this group did not exist, she would still be fearful and confused on how to deal with her breast cancer. “I encourage other women who suspect they have breast cancer not to be afraid and go and get a mammogram,” she says.
Being part of ELLAS also helped her through another unexpected and difficult moment. Her husband passed away, leaving her with three children. Shortly before passing, her husband had begun the process of filing for citizenship for their 11-year-old son. The process came to a halt and she did not think she would be able to complete it. Araceli directed Yolanda to TRP’s immigration services.
Yolanda decided to attend one of the free citizenship workshops and learn more about the process. TRP staff helped answer her questions about how to continue the citizenship process for her son.
After consulting with TRP staff, she not only filed her son’s paperwork, but decided to begin filing her own. “I thought it would be a difficult process and I was worried about the cost,” she says. Going through the process with TRP staff gave her the confidence to also apply for citizenship.
Today, her son is a U.S. citizen and Yolanda is scheduled to receive her citizenship before the Presidential elections. She’s excited to be voting for the first time in November and encourages other new citizens to vote.
“I never thought I could get my citizenship,” she says proudly. “If you are thinking about becoming a citizen, I recommend TRP because they provide good immigration service and they are trustworthy.”
This transformative experience for individuals like Yolanda Ramirez could not be possible without the generous support of The Field Foundation of Illinois and The Chicago Community Trust, Illinois Immigration Funder Collaborative.