When Yerania “Yadi” Lopez was a little girl living in Oaxaca, Mexico, her mother left her with her aunt while she went to the United States to prepare for a better life. Her mother worked every day, in packing houses during the week and picking tomatoes and oranges on the weekends. When her mother had saved enough money, she brought Yadi and her siblings to join her and the man who would become their stepfather in the small, close-knit farming community of Immokalee.
As the oldest child, Yadi had the responsibility of caring for her siblings while her parents worked. While they played and watched cartoons, Yadi discovered a love of drawing, and dreamed of a career in animation at Disney one day.
That career path would change as a she took on a part-time job in high school doing office work and patient translating at a Healthcare Network clinic in Immokalee. She realized that the work she was doing was meaningful and it sparked her interest in nursing. She went to Lorenzo Walker Technical College to become a licensed practical nurse and then continued on to Edison State College (now Florida SouthWestern State College) to become a registered nurse. This path led her back Immokalee to serve the community she grew up in as the director of operations at the same Healthcare Network clinic that she worked in before, and was a patient at when she was a child.
Yadi never made it to Disney World, but she is happy to be living in Naples and working in the community where she grew up. She lives with her husband Nicolas Hernandez, a project manager for Coast Fire Protection; her daughter Bianca, 12, who attends Corkscrew Middle School; and son Enrique, 9, who attends Corkscrew Elementary School. Yadi’s stepfather died a few years ago and her mother now lives with them.
How old were you when you moved to Immokalee, and what was it like? I was 11 years old. When I came to the United States it was very hard for me as it was totally different from my country; customs were different, people spoke a different language. When my mom enrolled me in school, I hated it. I didn’t have any friends as I didn’t know how to communicate and I was super shy. One day I attempted to run away because I didn’t want to be here. I cried every night because I missed my old school and my friends.
What surprised you about your new country? What surprised me the most was that the school (Pinecrest Elementary) provided breakfast and lunch; we didn’t have that in my country. My favorite meal at school was a cheeseburger. It was the most delicious meal I ever had. I also loved that we had more than just one television channel.
Yadi describes the migrant community as friendly and welcoming but it is also one has an undercurrent of fear. While her clinic does not question the immigration status of their patients, there is a social network that warns the community when immigration officials may be coming. When that happens the Main Street of Immokalee suddenly becomes like a ghost town and the children stay home from school. Regardless of their citizenship status, no one wants to be confronted.
What are the challenges caring for the migrant population? The language barrier and [the different] cultures. Many speak Spanish or Creole. The Guatemalan community speaks Spanish with their own dialect, which can be difficult to translate. The language barrier also makes it difficult for the patients to navigate the insurance system, so we help them with that.
For the migrant population who have chronic conditions, we continue to have the challenge to make sure they continue their care when they travel to others states.
Currently, we are experiencing an increase in the elderly migrant population who are now retired and have many healthcare needs. Immokalee doesn’t have assisted living facilities or nursing homes for those retirees who need medical care assistance, especially with managing medication regimens. Some them live by themselves. They don’t have the financial resources to afford a nursing home or assisted living.
What do you love about your community and your work? Immokalee is an amazing community. The people are nice and very humble. They appreciate any help they receive.
I also love that I am able to relate to them. I understand that child who recently has arrived from another country and I know what fears and challenges are faced during the process of adapting to a new culture.
What is a typical day like for you? I make sure my children get ready for school, and that my son makes it safe to school as he takes his bike. I drop my daughter at school. When I get to my job, I do rounds. I answer emails, attend meetings as needed. I monitor and resolve any issues related with personnel, patient care, patient complaints, etc. In the afternoon I call my kids to make sure they have arrived home safely and remind them to do their homework. After work I go to the gym to do Crossfit or Zumba. When I get home I cook for the family and after that if my kids need help with their homework, I assist them.