They were running out of options. After months of doctor visits, one thing became clear: 17-year-old Marco needed life-saving scoliosis surgery. The curve in his spine was worsening as he grew, beginning to crush his lungs and making it harder for him to breathe.
But the Ruiz family couldn’t afford the surgery. They didn’t have health insurance, and Marco’s father had recently lost his job.
A year earlier, the family applied for Medicaid but never heard back. As weeks turned into months with no answer, they began to lose hope.
Then, Marco’s high school support team connected him with a Community Health Worker. The Community Health Worker, Carmen, is part of the United Way-led Pathways Community HUB. This program supports rural communities with resources to improve health outcomes.
Carmen understood their urgency and recommended going in person to the Texas Health and Human Services office. She had built trusted relationships with the staff there and believed she could help.
But she didn’t just suggest it. She went to the office with them.
Together, they submitted a new application. This time, Marco was approved for Medicaid on the spot. His parents, stunned and grateful, left the office in tears. After a year of silence, they finally had an answer.
A few weeks later, Marco underwent surgery. It was a success. He can breathe again. The crushing pain in his neck and legs is gone. He’s back to being a teenager — dreaming about his future, walking taller, and laughing more easily.
His father has started a new job. Thanks to the support of United Way-backed programs, families like the Ruizs are healing.
When United Way supports local community programming by training Community Health Workers who understand the system, show up, and refuse to give up, Central Texas thrives.
Every day, our community efforts change lives — not with miracles, but with relentless compassion, persistence, and the power to open doors that once seemed out of reach.