From Pain to a Plan: How Mayra Got Her Life Back

Mayra is a single mother of two, working tirelessly as a street vendor in Nicaragua. Every day, she balanced a heavy basket of fruit and vegetables on her head, walking the streets to earn enough to support her children.

But lately, the work that once kept her family afloat had become nearly impossible.
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She was battling a constant, oppressive headache, tingling in her arms, and a sensitivity to light so intense that it made daily tasks unbearable. Desperate and afraid she might have to stop working, Mayra turned to OneWorld Health’s Tola clinic for help.

Dr. Sevilla listened carefully to Mayra’s symptoms and reviewed her medical history. It became clear that her years of physically demanding work had taken a toll—she was living with degenerative lesions in the cervical vertebrae of her spine, and those issues were now affecting her nervous system, causing the headaches, dizziness, and numbness in her hands.

For Mayra, the explanation was a relief.

She finally understood what was happening—and, more importantly, what could be done.

Dr. Sevilla prescribed stronger pain medication and vitamins to support her nervous system and improve blood flow to her brain. They also talked through practical changes—finding an alternative way to carry her goods to reduce the strain on her spine, incorporating simple physiotherapy exercises, and focusing on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Mayra left the clinic not only with medicine, but with a plan—and hope.

She recently returned to the clinic to share her progress, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"I am so grateful for the clear explanation of treatments to help me," she told Dr. Sevilla. "I am saving money to be able to see the orthopedic doctor. Thank you so much for your help."

Mayra’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the most life-changing care starts with listening, understanding, and walking alongside someone on their journey to healing.

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