Meet Cristobalina 2:

Cristobalina lives in a small remote village called Patzutzun in the southwestern highlands located about three hours from Guatemala City. Her parents own the land where they live and share with two families of Cristobalina’s bigger brothers. 

“Im bored. “ says Cristobalina. “I don't know and I don't think much about what I want to do for the future, but now, I want to go back to school and study.”   Her normal day consists of playing with her small nephews and nieces, taking a walk in the mountains in her backyard, listening to music on the radio, painting and drawing.  Except for a weekly physical therapy appointment in Panajahel, the town of one and a half hour away from her village, Cristobalina almost never leaves the land of her house.

Cristobalina, who has 10 siblings and 22 nephew and nieces, likes children. However she does not think about having her own children, a boyfriend or getting married anymore. “I had a boyfriend at the time of an accident. But he left while I was staying in the hospital for four months. We don't talk anymore.” She adds that she saw him on the bus while ago, but he did not notice her.

In a course of adjusting to her new life without hands, she learned to do most daily tasks by herself. Though she still needs a help to bathe, comb her hair, and to change clothes with buttons and zippers, she is able to feed herself, go to a bathroom, brush her teeth alone. Every night her mother needs to put humectant cream on her legs, and one of the biggest nieces sleeps with Cristobalina to help her change in the morning.

Cristobalina’s mother states that Critobalina gets rebelled at home once a while and her primary doctor believes that Cristobalina still needs counseling. However, placing Cristobalina in the session has been difficult due to an isolated location of where she lives.