'Are you the answer to my prayer?'
Lucy Cisneros
Print- •
-
Share
- Share this item
-
Grab the link
Copy and paste the link:
- Blog about it
- Close
- •
-
4 Comments
- •
Favorite- •
HAVE A QUESTION FOR 'WATCHDOG?'
To submit questions, e-mail watchdog@vicad.com, post them to the "Watchdog" blog or call Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza at 361-580-6519. No topic is off-limits.
I understand full well a great many people suffer.
The economy, bad luck and the routine knocks of life conspire to keep countless folks in need.
Lucy Cisneros can relate. I retell the 66-year-old's story here not to rehash a bad memory or to claim she suffers worse than most. Something in her recent letter grabbed me, though.
You might remember the fire that destroyed Cisneros' Telferner home on Dec. 21. That fire was one of three Christmastime fires to gut area homes last year.
You might also remember a local house mover, who claimed to be inspired by God, promised to donate three free homes, one to each of the families. The houses never arrived. The home mover said the recession, other business deals and lending problems prevented him from fulfilling his holiday promise.
He failed to return phone calls for this column.
A week ago, Cisneros stopped by the newspaper. She discussed with me the struggles she has faced since her home burned down and belongings turned to ash.
After the fire, she lived for a short while in a local motel and on donations from the community. Now, she lives in a local apartment complex that she says attracts violence. The Victoria Police Department confirmed burglars nabbed her purse and cell phone just a few days ago.
Her paralyzed husband, Andres, lives in a local nursing home. Together, the two survive off Medicaid and a fixed $1,000 monthly income, Cisneros said. She brings her husband food and toiletries.
Through it all, she held on to one hope. She stood in the newsroom, bleary-eyed. Her husband won't regain his mobility. Her family photos won't magically reappear. But maybe ABC'S "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" - the TV show that rebuilds homes and thus lives - will consider her as a candidate, Cisneros said. She just wants to return home.
I asked her to write her wishes down, to describe for the TV show her 10-month ordeal. Here, I include a small portion of her letter.
"Dear People of Extreme Makeover: I had a house fire back on Dec. 22. I was devastated. I lost everything - 50 years of memories of my married life. I thought an angel had been sent from heaven. He promised me a house. He sounded so sincere. He had promised me a ramp and everything, in case I got my paralyzed husband out of the nursing home.
"I still own my land. I love plants and I still go out there every chance I get to water them in faith.
"Right now, I'm living in a very dangerous place where there's a lot of prostitution, drugs, gangs and thieves. One day, there was a shooting close to where I live and I loaded up my puppy and went to Telferner. I knelt down and cried out to God that I wanted to come home where it was peaceful.
"I live here because that's all I can afford."
Her heart sank when we read on the ABC Web site that to be a candidate for the show, you must first own a home. Cisneros no longer does.
"I'm so tired but I still hope and pray for a miracle," she ends her letter to the TV show. "Are you the answer to my prayer? Yours truly, Lucy Cisneros."
Watchdog is a column by Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza. It appears every two weeks. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Comments
I've seen the show do houses where the house was gone due to natural disaster. She should still submit it.
October 4, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.How sad the the author sees fit to encourage a "one in a million" shot a television show, but not offer a realistic solution to the lady's situation. But then again, I've read his work before..
Thanks Alton, for offering up the suggestion and the offer of help. I'll pitch in too! Okay Gabe, show your sincerity and get the ball rolling. Hello. Hello. Anybody home?
October 4, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.Alton
October 3, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.I've seen somebody advertising bunkhouses for sale in this newspaper maybe one of those would suffice if it was donated and fixed up for her!
Sounds like a good cause for Navarro Habitat For Humanity. If she does not qualify, maybe a church committee can be organized to seek donations, maybe the city would set aside inspection fees, maybe donations from various hardware, roofing, licensed electrician, plumber, and home repair businesses could help out. It should not cost much to build a single bedroom 700-800 square foot home. A 300 square foot studio style maybe considered if funds are limited. I can donate sweat to help build her a new home (as long as it is not roofing).
October 3, 2009 at 7:18 p.m.