Maira Sanchez spends time with newborn son Angel Noe Medrano, daughter Monserrat Medrano, 7, and son Martine Medrano, 4, at their home outside of Tyler on Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017. Sanchez is receiving assistance from PATH, a non-profit organization in Tyler that helps people make a pathway to dignity and self-sufficiency in their lives. Sanchez has needed significant help after becoming sick. She is currently on dialysis three days a week for four hours at a time. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tyler mom Maira Sanchez is entangled in a life and death struggle that seems to grow more complicated by the hour.

She’s a dialysis patient who lacks the basics for an easier life — health insurance, steady income, childcare, a working vehicle and United States citizenship.

Her husband — a painter and primary breadwinner for their family — was jailed in September for aggravated assault and possessing a controlled substance.

He’s about to be deported to Mexico, leaving her alone, sick and working to earn enough making tamales — to care for three children, ages 7, 4 and 5 months, all born in the United States.

Her family is still in Mexico and urging her to return, but leaving the area after 10 years in the United States is a big decision wrought with complications.

Life was good, she said, until about a year ago when her kidneys started failing, and that’s when things turned especially difficult.

If Ms. Sanchez figures a way to return to her homeland, she’ll be walking away from three-day-a-week dialysis treatments, the family’s rent-to-own mobile home, her children’s school and many family possessions.

“I have to decide what to do,” a weeping Ms. Sanchez said recently through a translator at PATH (People Attempting to Help) where she was seeking one-time rent assistance and help with utilities. “Thank God they were there.”

COMBATING POVERTY

PATH, 402 W. Front St., is on the front lines of combating poverty, helping a growing client base that includes people facing sometimes-critical life situations, such as the ones facing Ms. Sanchez.

It’s one of 10 agencies that will benefit from the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s 10th annual Shine Your Light Community Campaign, which raises money for local nonprofit organizations.

Since 2008, more than $1.4 million for 20 local nonprofits was raised through the campaign.

PATH provides occasional, limited assistance to qualified families and helps them identify sustainable options to help turn things around.

Not everyone can be pulled out of difficult circumstances, but the agency is committed to helping people who want to help themselves.

“The big thing we’re seeing is homeless prevention,” PATH Executive Director Greg Grubb said. “When people get behind on a bill, they have very few options.”

PATH sees roughly 120 families a day — that figure amounts to about 20,000 people a year, roughly 10 percent of Smith County.

Clients can receive one visit a month to the food pantry.

Qualified families who meet certain requirements can receive other types of assistance, such as help paying for prescriptions and one-time help with rent or utilities.

Visits include one-on-one time with a caseworker to identify solutions that lead to independence.

“We’ve seen a gradual rise since 2009,” Grubb said, noting fewer Hispanic families seem to be coming in out of fear of deportation.

The agency works with other local and area nonprofits to maximize resources, identify gaps in service, and help families regain self-sufficiency.

Preventing homelessness is a key objective of the agency, which tries to meet a variety of needs, from warm winter blankets and fans to tax preparation advice.

As part of its efforts, the agency helps to place some qualified families in stable housing.

It owns more than 54 homes, which are rented out at below market rates to help them stabilize and return to productivity.

“We pour everything we have into those families,” Grubb said, citing examples such as helping elevate single mothers through education. “If they are ready to make a change, we can help … dependence is not a good thing.”

Some participants have taken advantage of the assistance to obtain degrees, move into good paying jobs or purchase homes, he said.

HOMELESS PREVENTION

A recent trend seems to be the growing number of homeless young adults, some of whom are just passing through.

“They band together for apartments or they live in tents,” Grubb said. “That’s hard for us to see. They are not really interested in taking our wisdom or advice … that’s something we haven’t really seen in Tyler before.”

Grubb said it’s important to show them kindness nonetheless, so when they are ready to change, the agency can point them in the right direction.

In the case of Ms. Sanchez, who likely is going to return to Mexico in a couple of weeks, helping her helps the family retain a roof over their heads, at least temporarily.

As U.S. citizens, her children can receive food stamps and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) to help with nutritional needs.

PATH supervisor Araceli Flores said Ms. Sanchez is not a regular face around the agency.

“They were doing good,” Ms. Flores said. “They were making it. She only came in when she really needed help. The situation of being by herself — borrowing cars, being sick, can’t hold a job — she’s desperate.”

TOGETHER AND SAFE

The agency’s willingness to assist the woman seems to have long-reaching effects.

During a recent visit to the Sanchez home, it was evident she is trying to remain upbeat for the children.

The front door is decorated for Christmas, complete with a plastic stocking on the door handle.

Inside the home, there is a small artificial tree with a small, wrapped present underneath for each child.

Her two oldest children, Monserrat, 7, and Martine, 4, are enjoying an after-school snack — a glass of freshly mixed powered milk while their baby brother, Angel, enjoys his from a bottle.

Ms. Sanchez receives four hours of dialysis, three times a week, but this was a non-medical day.

“She had a good day,” her daughter said, helping translate. “She worked today.”

The exhausted Ms. Sanchez still has several bandages and healing incisions on one arm, but she’s no longer crying and giggles when the baby smiles.

The rent on their home is paid through the end of the month and soup is planned for supper, thanks to PATH, she said.

In the children’s eyes, the future, for now, seems as bright as the glow in their mother’s eyes.

“Christmas is coming,” Monserrat said, rubbing a small gift against her cheek in gleeful anticipation. “We are going to my aunt’s house and my mom is going to work.”

TWITTER @ TMT _ Jacque