Belize Bank and group build house for suffering family

Months ago, an Orange Walk family was devastated when their house collapsed and fell on top of a family member. The Cordova’s are hard working and humble, but they have been having a difficult time to make ends meet especially since medical costs and care for Brighton are eating away their income. The family, however, is breathing a small sigh of relief, because they will soon be moving into a new house. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Life has been a constant struggle for the Cordova family in Orange Walk since their house collapsed on ten year old Brithon Cordova on July twenty-sixth. Since then, they have been living in an apartment, but their touching story got the attention of the Belize Bank, which teamed up with Hand in Hand Ministries to build the family a new house.

Elisa Reyes

Elisa Reyes, Manager of Retail Banking Services, Orange Walk Branch, Belize Bank

“This year the Belize Bank Orange Walk Branch decided to do the Hand in Hand Ministries project, Building for a Change. Fortunately the staff was all into it and so we started to look around for a family. We heard about the Cordova case with the little Brithon child, a sad story. So we identified that family, contacted Mr. Panton at Hand in Hand Ministries and they came to do an interview for the family and they qualified.”

Brithon’s mother, Norma Cordova, had attempted to raise funds through a telethon and when that failed the bank was there to help.

Norma Cordova, Brithon’s Mother

Norma Cordova

“It was not successful because—well, it was successful one way because we got the house but you know the needs that we wanted, the needs for my son, it didn’t work out. So whatever we got we thank God for it and that’s what we are working with, financial wise, to get his medication. Just three weeks ago, we had to rush him to the doctor because he was not breathing. Those kinds of stuff and everything is finance.”

Elisa Reyes

“There was a telethon done at Orange Walk through I think the local radio station and we heard about it and apparently they did get some funds, but not enough to complete the house. Through that then, we already had them in mind and with that also heard we contacted Hand in Hand.”

Brithon Cordova

Even with a new house, the Cordova’s troubles are far from over. The brain damage Brithon suffered in the incident has left him paralyzed and unable to speak. Since he was released from the hospital six weeks ago, his condition has not improved and he has taken several trips to the emergency room.

Norma Cordova

“He is still stable, he still doesn’t move. He has reduced about thirty-five pounds. So we’re still praying to God that something works out. He is still eating through the tube and breathing through the trachea; no improvement. Sometimes he give us some fright but we deal with it. I thank God for the strength that he has given to me because sometimes when he cries, like this morning he was crying. Sometimes he cries and we don’t know what is happening but we understand when he tries to communicate with us. He communicates with his eyes. Whenever something is wrong, he squints and squints and squints and so we know. He has a way to call us; whenever he doesn’t see us or hear us in the apartment, he makes this noise so we know that it’s me he is crying to.”

Norma says the struggle was compounded when her husband abandoned the family about a month after the incident. Since then, her son, Kerwin Griffiths has stepped up to help provide the twenty-four hour care that Brithon needs.

Kerwin Griffiths

Kerwin Griffiths, Brithon’s Brother

“I brush his mouth, I clean around the feeding tube, trachea, sometimes. I just try to do everything I can for him. Like when he is crying, I would talk to him. if he would have like some of the things that he would that he gets frightened like sometimes he brings the cold up, too much cold and then he can’t bring it up and I would go and I would coax him and tell him Briths yoh have to bring up some, just lee bit and I would take the hose and I would push it a little bit more in. I’m just always being around.  It’s a little bit rough and sometimes you feel glad that you’re helping him out and you’re making him feel better. Every time I take care of him, I notice that he feels—he shows a little bit of happiness in his face every day that I do it.”

But with the cost of medication and hospital visits, the family still needs whatever assistance they can get—financial or otherwise.

Norma Cordova

“I still appeal to the public for finance help because we need that a lot or whatever they can help us with; pampers, gloves, whatever anyone can help us with his important needs; what he uses, what he eats. So I still appeal to the public if whosoever hear my call, my cries if they can assist us.”

Kerwin Griffiths

“I feel it sometimes you know. It hurts me sometimes,  I get some feelings sometimes and like—I look happy everyday and people tell me bwai you always you happy and you look glad, you don’t look sad about your brother but inside it hurts me right. I just ask the public if they can help with anything, that would work. Anything, pampers, anything; we would gladly appreciate that little help you know.”

Delahnie Bain

“I know that this is very hard for you all, but you are prepared to continue caring for him like this?”

Norma Cordova

“Oh yes, oh yes. I will never give up. I will not give up on Brithon, never.”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.

The Cordova family is now waiting for the electricity to be connected so they can move into their new house. Anyone who can offer financial assistance can contact Norma at 669-8100.