Irma

Irma de Jesús contracted a sickness when she was seven years old that left her with a lifelong disability. The left side of her body was severely crippled. She can't move her left arm much, and the muscles and bones in her leg formed in a way that only allows her to walk on her tip toes on her left foot. She limps through her community, San Antonio, with no shoes and no crutch or cane to assist her. She has no husband, but was, as she says, bless with a child sixteen years ago.

When Irma was a girl, her community was hit hard with a polio epidemic. Many people died and there are many that were left even more handicapped than Irma. For example, I met a woman, Amanda, that contracted polio when she was young and her legs never developed. Small, mangled remnants of legs and feet dangle below her skirt as she carries herself on homemade crutches through the nearly impassable streets. Others that survived polio were left deaf and mute.

Irma can't use her full voice, but she can whisper as she sucks air into her lungs. She shared with me the story of her life. Despite all of her misfortunes, Irma is one of the happiest people I have ever met. She greeted me with a laugh, smile, and affection that remained throughout our time together. This woman, left crippled, poor, and alone seemed to love life more than I ever have.