Lilian Ramos Guerra has been a patient at Gracelight Community Health for almost thirty years. She’s originally from Guatemala and started coming to the Echo Park clinic back when it was located on 8th and Mariposa. Over the years, the clinic has become like family to her.
She talked about how much the staff has meant to her, especially Manuel, who she described as an amazing person. “He helped me with Medi-Cal and CalFresh,” she said. “Without him, I wouldn’t have had a way to feed my family during the COVID lockdown. I wanted to give up, but Manuel encouraged me to keep going and helped me stay consistent with my care. I appreciate him so much.”
Recently, Lilian started seeing Dr. Xiao Chen for her care. “I came in with joint pain and chest pain, and she sent me for an X-ray right away,” Lilian said. “She took care of me so quickly, and I loved that. It reminded me why I love you guys so much.”
She said she also appreciates the follow-up reminders she gets through Gracelight’s text messages, which help her stay on track with appointments and care. “You all always find a way to reach out,” she said.
After three decades of care, Lilian said she still feels supported by the team at Echo Park. “The service here has always been good,” she said. “I can never complain. You’ve all been there for me and my family through everything.”
Story Seeker: Healthcare Advocate Karina Flores for Echo Park