With a new home come new possibilities

Marcelino Torres couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

And with good reason.

His wife, who suffers from a rare respiratory illness, rested comfortably in their new master bedroom.

Some of his children checked out their new beds as others played in the yard.

“It’s a very beautiful home,” Torres said in Spanish. “It’s the best thing for (my wife’s) health.”

And it’s a far cry from where they lived before.

Their former dwelling — in a colonia on the rural east side of Edinburg — was a tiny, worn mobile home where Torres and his wife lived with their nine children ranging in age from 3 to 19.

Holes were apparent where floor and walls had rotted, and the heat baked the small home, which lacked sufficient air conditioning. Some of the children had to sleep on the floor.

But not anymore.

Through several anonymous donations from the community, the Torreses received a refurbished mobile home with new beds, appliances and furniture. Their story first appeared in The Monitor in December 2006 as part of the annual “12 Days of Christmas” series, in which the newspaper teams up with the United Way to feature Hidalgo and Starr county families who have faced extraordinary struggles throughout the year and are in need of assistance.

Torres’ wife, Juana Hortencia, suffers from Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system, sometimes causing near total paralysis that requires the use of a respirator to assist with breathing. She needs fresh air and a cool environment to stay comfortable as she copes with the condition.

Since she was diagnosed with the illness in August 2004, Marcelino has had to stay at home to care for her and their young children. He does lawn work on the side when he has the time, but he can’t always make ends meet, he said.

“The children are going to be much more comfortable to have their own space,” Marcelino said. “It’s not going to be the same.”

Thelma Garza, president of the United Way of South Texas, said the donations are worth about $25,000.

United Way staff, together with volunteers from GE Aviation in McAllen, assembled the furniture and set up the Torres’ new home while Marcelino and Juana Hortencia waited at a neighbor’s place down the road. Workers brought in the mobile home earlier in the day and set it up on the Torres’ property.

“This is about the best thing that you can do for the community and yourself,” said Luke Wakerle, an engineer with GE Aviation in McAllen.

Garza said “12 Days” families typically receive aid only around the holiday season they are featured.

But the Torres’ situation could have altered the future of one of their shining stars — Ana Rosa, the eldest daughter.

Ana Rosa attends Texas A&M University and has received about $400,000 in scholarships.

“She has enough money to pay for her Ph.D.,” Garza said.

Earlier in the year, Ana Rosa was giving thought to dropping out of the school to come home, work and support her family.

She didn’t have to do that, though.

The United Way raised enough money to give the Torres family a new home. That gives their children a chance to thrive — and hopefully keep Ana Rosa in school.

“It all came together today,” Garza said.

Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.