Three years ago, Manuel De Jesus Giraldo Viloria arrived in Los Angeles with nothing but hope and the few belongings he could carry. He had already left behind his home in Venezuela, spent time staying with his sister in Miami, and was now trying to rebuild his life in a city where he knew no one.
Starting over was never going to be easy, but lately, it has felt almost impossible. With immigration policies changing and the fear of losing his work permit, even something as simple as stepping outside has become a source of anxiety. However, a silver lining in his life has been being able to receive care through Gracelight.
Manuel has always been proactive about his health, but his fear of immigration enforcement and ICE raids has kept him from coming into the clinic. Instead, he has relied on telemedicine services, using virtual visits to stay on top of his health while feeling safe at home. But more than just medical care, we’ve also provided him with resources to help him navigate immigration concerns—information on his rights, guidance on where to turn for legal support, and reassurance that he isn’t alone in this fight. With no family in Los Angeles, Manuel has spent much of his time feeling like he’s on his own. But this past Thanksgiving, something changed. When he received a Thanksgiving food drive bag at West Lake North, it wasn’t just about the food—it was about the moment of connection.
“That moment, it felt like someone actually noticed me,” he shared. “Like I wasn’t invisible.”
For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged.
“You all felt like family,” he said. “You were there when I thought I had no one. When I thought I had to do everything on my own.” Even with all the uncertainty ahead, Manuel refuses to give up. “I just hope everything will be okay,” he said. “No matter what happens, I have to believe in a brighter future.”
Until then, he continues to take care of his health—using telemedicine to stay connected, leaning on the support system he’s found at the clinic, and reminding himself that, no matter how difficult things feel, he isn’t really alone. Manuel’s story is a reminder that no one should have to navigate life’s challenges alone. A simple food bag. A telemedicine visit. A conversation filled with kindness. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. At West Lake North, he knows he has a place where he is welcomed, where he matters, and where no one is forgotten and no matter what challenges may come, he is not facing them alone.
Story Seeker: Medical Assistant Yaxel Gomez