The story of Francisco

By CINDY VON QUEDNOW
EL NUEVO SOL

From the young age of 6, Francisco lived through difficulties of someone who is much older.

When his mom left to the United States for work, he stayed behind in El Salvador. At the age of 3, Francisco joined his parents in Los Angeles. From the age of 3 to 6 Francisco suffered violence and verbal abuse from his father.

“He always abused my mother,” Francisco remembered. “He always got home late, insulting everyone and he never really got along with her. I felt useless because I was little and I couldn’t do anything.”

Listen to Francisco’s testimony about his childhood (in Spanish).
[audio:http://www.elnuevosol.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/Francisco_Audio_1.MP3]

Francisco returned to El Salvador because his mother could not care for him in the U.S.

While he lived separated from his mother, Francisco had to take care of another transnational child, his nephew who his brother left him in charge of when he went to work in the U.S. But it was hard for Francisco to protect himself from gangs who would harass and threaten him on a daily basis.

Domestic violence continued throughout Francisco’s stay at El Salvador (in Spanish).
[audio:http://www.elnuevosol.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/Francisco_Audio_2.MP3]

With the help of his mother, Francisco went back to live with her in Los Angeles. The reunion was special.

“I could not believe that I was back with her,” said Francisco, who is now 21 years old. “It was 10 years since I had been with her, it was very nice.”

When he returned to the U.S., Francisco realized he qualified for the Violence against Women Act for the violence he endured as a young boy. Today, he is a permanent resident.

Although his mother also qualified for VAWA, she has not been able to apply for permanent residency because the government is investigating if she has an order of deportation.
Francisco mother left her husband years ago and she has a new partner who helps her and Francisco.

His mother is still suffering the consequences of her abuse. When she was 14 years old her husband fractured her leg and the pain has worsened over the years. There are days where she can’t get up, let alone work. Although she qualifies for medical services through VAWA, that is not enough to cover an operation that she will probably need.

“Sometimes my mom cries, even more when the pain in her leg won’t subside,” Francisco said. “Sometimes she can’t sleep well because she is thinking about it.”

But now that Francisco is a resident, he has a job, is learning English and is hoping to study law or medicine in the future. He is hoping to help his mother in any way possible.

“I wish I could take away her pain and make her feel better, but I can’t,” he said. “What I can do is tell her that we will keep moving forward and soon she will be better.”

After 18 years, Francisco and his mother feel they are still traumatized by domestic violence (in Spanish).
[audio:http://www.elnuevosol.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/Francisco_Audio_3.MP3]