Jesus Mesa

Told by San Antonio Food Bank

"The two days we are alone feel like a whole week has gone by and we are worried about falling again.”

Mr. Mesa and his wife have been married since 1987 but were together long before “making it official”. A little dog sits on Mr. Mesa’s lap as he shares his story. “The dog’s name is Bebe (aka Baby). She is 16 years old and is my little guard and lap dog,” he states. Mr. Mesa enjoys listening to the television, as he is nearly blind, and he enjoys going to the flea market with his son on Sundays. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Mr. Mesa tries to go to dialysis for his diabetes.  

Mr. Mesa used to work at a cement company until he fell on his side and broke his hip in three places. Doctors told him that he would not walk again but to this day he has proved them wrong. He was referred to [food bank] SWIM’s services by Dr. Rodriguez, at a Well Med Clinic in March of last year. His experiences with food assistance have been good and have helped him save a lot of money allowing him to pay his property tax. Mr. Mesa has been on disability since the early 90’s, social security and Medicaid too. He started his application for SNAP but has not finished. Mr. Mesa does not know how to read and can only sign his name. His caregiver is responsible for filling out his assistance applications.  

Diabetes, mobility and vision impairments in addition to his wife diagnosis of dementia are the current health conditions impacting him and his household. Aside from food, their greatest need is having a home care provider seven days a week, rather than five days a week. Right now, the provider is only contracted to be at their home from Monday through Friday. A driver is sent to take Mr. Mesa to his dialysis appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On these days Mr. Mesa can find ease knowing that his wife is being taken care of while he’s gone. However, since a provider is not scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, Mr. Mesa misses his dialysis on Saturdays because he is responsible for taking care of his wife. Mr. Mesa struggles to bathe, feed and change her by himself. Until a caregiver is scheduled seven days a week, Mr. Mesa said, “the two days we are alone feel like a whole week has gone by and we are worried about falling again.”  

The Mesa’s are socially isolated and fill their time with dialysis appointments and paying bills. His son is the only of their kids that they are still in contact with, they do not talk to the others. Mr. Mesa looks towards the future through a spiritual lens. He does not know what the future has in store for them; he does not know if his wife will go first or if he will go first but he knows that it is in God’s hands. When asked what he would say if he were to talk to someone thinking about coming in to get food assistance he said, “the resources are out there, I encourage people to ask for help. I want my situation known. Seniors go through this and we need more resources for dialysis. I want to share my story in hopes of getting more help and raising awareness.”  

Anna Beardsley 

Healthy Partnership Organizer VISTA 

San Antonio Food Bank

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