Andrea’s Story.
Andrea is a young widow caring for her 6-year-old daughter. Three years ago, she tragically lost her closest friend, Doña Marta, to cancer. In an act of selflessness, Andrea adopted Doña Marta’s three boys, who are now 15, 13, and 8 years old. Despite having limited formal education, Andrea persevered and earned her sixth-grade diploma last year by studying in the evenings. When we first met her in 2019, she supported her family by renting a room in her home and cleaning houses.
Unfortunately, shortly after our initial meeting, Andrea lost her home, which her late mother had left to her and her sister. Her sister and brother-in-law, unaccepting of Doña Marta's family living there because they were Nicaraguan and of indigenous descent, took drastic measures by claiming ownership with a legal document of doubtful authenticity. This left Andrea, Marta, and the children to fend for themselves.
In 2023 and again in 2024, Andrea underwent radiation treatment for breast cancer. In April 2023, a speeding motorcycle struck her while walking home from work, resulting in a broken femur and severe uterine injury. Since then, she has been unable to perform heavy physical work, experiencing debilitating pain.
For several years, Andrea has intermittently sold fast food from home. While it provides her with some income to cover costs, it falls short of paying for business permits and her family’s essential living expenses.
This campaign aims to acquire several key items to enhance her ability to support her family.
1: A moped, to enable delivery service, as she has lost customers recently to a competitor who provides that benefit. Former patrons wish to return, but distance is a barrier. Currently, Andrea relies only on a bicycle for transportation, as do many of her clients.
2: Basic furniture (three tables and twelve chairs) to provide a comfortable dining experience. Many customers arrive by motorbike or bicycle, making it awkward to take meals home.
3: A sewing machine. Doña Marta taught Andrea to sew, but she lost her sewing machine in a flood. Her soda doesn’t open until 3:00 p.m., leaving daytime hours free to create clothing and other saleable items. She is eager to improve her skills with a free government course but needs a sewing machine to participate.
Who Am I? My name is Tim Curtis, and I reside in Monteverde, Costa Rica, with my wife, Helena Guindon. Since 2019, I have known first Doña Marta and then Andrea. Although my interactions with Andrea have been limited due to distance and transportation issues, we have maintained constant contact. During this time, we have provided financial support to assist Andrea, Marta, and their children in overcoming the challenges of poverty. The children are now on a more stable path, yet they remain reliant on aid and have not achieved self-sufficiency. We are hopeful that this campaign will help move them closer to that goal.
