As she gently inspected the condition of his skin, she explained that he needed a thorough cleaning and a special ointment and offered to wash his feet and patch them up. Nurse Santizo approached, and he asked if she wouldn’t mind examining his feet. She encountered a middle-aged man who had lost his job during the pandemic and was forced to live on the streets. Every workday she has meaningful interactions, but one experience in particular had a lasting impression on her. When the opportunity to practice street nursing arose, Santizo knew instinctively that it was the right fit.
She credits her lack of access to healthcare as a child for empowering her to keep pushing for change. It should be a right for someone to seek healthcare when it is needed and important, especially for children and adolescents who will be the future of our generation,” said Nurse Santizo. “ medicine should not be determined based on your socioeconomic status. That upbringing is what drove her to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of giving back to underserved communities. The Santizo family Courtesy of Michelle Santizo “ taught me to never judge someone’s struggle … my mother’s inspiring upbringing taught me if you have the time to help the broken or disadvantaged, then take a moment to acknowledge or help in some positive way.” She said her mother instilled in her that there are many reasons why people are homeless and that each individual has their own story. “My mother told me that the only people that acknowledged her while sleeping outside on a bench the church that was across the street,” said Nurse Santizo. Her mother fled from El Salvador as a young woman, arriving in the United States alone and without shelter. As the child of immigrant parents, she experienced firsthand a lack of healthcare and basic necessities. known as “skid row” to care for her clients, who are typically people experiencing homelessness and living on the fringes of society without regular access to healthcare. Michelle | Heroes Behind the Masks presented by CeraVe Santizo prepares for the workday by loading her backpack with supplies before heading to a section of downtown L.A. “It can be in a pristine, abandoned, trashed, or graffiti-filled neighborhood.” “Every corner of Los Angeles needs our services,” said Nurse Santizo. No matter how we get there, the end result is so important: help and support for more people to also be able to say " I'm still here." If you want to see more incredible semicolon tattoos, check out nine photos and stories that our readers shared with us! The semicolon (and the message that goes along with it) is a reminder that I've faced dark times, but I'm still here."
I've dealt with anxiety, depression, and gender dysphoria for the better part of my life, and at times, that led me down a path that included self-harm and suicide attempts.īut here I am, years later, finally fitting the pieces of my life together in a way I never thought they could before. Not because it's trendy (though, it certainly seems to be at the moment), but because it's a reminder of the things I've overcome in my life. (If you need someone to talk to, scroll to the end of the article for the center's contact information.) So next time you see this small punctuation tattoo, remember the words of Upworthy writer Parker Molloy: "I recently decided to get a semicolon tattoo. Through The Semicolon Tattoo Project, they've been able to connect even more people with the help they need during times of crisis. Founded in 1970, it's one of the oldest crisis centers in the country. Jenn and Jeremy work with the Agora Crisis Center. And it's not just about the conversation - it's about providing tangible support and help too. Even better, what began as a local event has spread far and wide, and people all over the world are getting semicolon tattoos. In total, over 400 people received semicolon tattoos in one day. "That money was a fundraiser for our crisis center," said Jenn. In 2014, The Semicolon Tattoo Project held an event at several tattoo shops where people could get a semicolon tattoo for a flat rate.