| A Business Degree Giving Back
Graduate 2018 Carla Cadena
- Entered JA with the Class of 2014
- UAQ / Autonomus University of Querétaro
- Administration
This is personal for Carla.
At only 22, she experienced firsthand the dramatic difference that a palliative care approach to dying can make, and she is candid and articulate in revealing the roots of her commitment.
2011
Carla's grandfather, dying of old age, found a 3-day hospitalization extremely distressing: visiting hours curtailed, visitors limited, children forbidden altogether. Upon his release, he relaxed into the care of his huge extended family at home. His needs straightforward and predictable, everyone did the hard work together.
2016
Carla's uncle’s death 5 years later told a different story.
What they knew was his severe, unrelenting pain. Harrowing trips to the doctor failed to alleviate his suffering. Carla’s family of 30 grew more anxious and helpless, with no access to a peaceful solution.
“My uncle endured death with severe, relentless pain.”
Despite doctor’s visits, neither the patient nor the family found relief - nothing could alleviate the collective suffering.
2018
Two year's later Carla saw the difference palliative care can make - with her mother’s boss. It was peaceful, loving, a natural transition that the extended family could embrace together, the Mexican way - the woman dying in Carla's mother's arms.
Our vision is to create capacity in central Mexico for the provision of palliative care and hospice services.
“My mother is my hero,” said Carla. “When she was 15, she left her home in the campo and came alone to San Miguel. Her friends and neighbors criticized her choice, believing that she would fail or come to harm. But they underestimated her strength of character. She was ready to work hard and succeed. I often think of my mother’s strength and bravery. Her choices and her beautiful example have made my opportunities possible.
I know how much a palliative care approach is needed here in Mexico. The patients need it and the families also need it...Mexican families are close. They want to be involved and they need someone to teach them what to do. Like, what to give for pain and how often... what to expect and how to respond. And they need someone to tell them ‘You did a great job; you did everything you could.’
In addition to her work at Mitigare, Carla serves on the board of Midday Rotary, as Vice President of Projects. She maintains direct contact with the 9 current project leaders, providing ongoing follow-up.
"This has completely changed my perspective on social impact through collective action. It is a balance that I add to my life to help provide the community with access to improvements in their day‑to‑day lives through Rotary’s areas of focus."
Reference areas of focus:
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
- Disease Prevention and Treatment
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
- Maternal and Child Health
- Basic Education and Literacy
- Community Economic Development
- Supporting the Environment
Carla Cadena
- Graduate December, 2018
- Mitigare Cuidados Paliativos A.C.
- Administrative Director
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