The Garcia Family’s Story
“Like we say in the Guard—‘always ready, always there!’ That’s me. I’m a mom and veteran, and I never give up.” — Elena Garcia, 28
About
Elena
Elena Garcia grew up with her parents and four older brothers in San Diego, California. Her mom always said Elena was born a fighter, ready to tackle any challenge. After high school, she moved to Indiana with her best friend, seeking new opportunities. There, she met Wyatt. They built a life together for ten years—raising two beautiful children and making memories. But when Wyatt died, everything changed. Elena barely has time to grieve, but she’s determined to stay strong for her kids.
Diego
Diego is a bright, curious 4-year-old who joyfully explores nature. His favorite pastime is using the magnifying glass his late father, Wyatt, gave him to examine flowers and bugs in his backyard. Following Wyatt’s death, Diego has become withdrawn and struggles with intense nightmares. He doesn’t want to say goodbye when his mom leaves for work—he clings to her and cries.
Camila
Camila is a high-spirited and active 2-year-old. Elena often finds Camila chatting with her favorite stuffed giraffe in the mornings. She shares her family’s love of the outdoors and is happy to help Diego collect bugs. However, since the loss of her father, Camila has become a fussy eater and struggles with bedtime. She asks for her dad to feed her or put her to bed and often cries until exhaustion takes over. Deeply attached to her brother, Camila wants to be near Diego as they both navigate their shared grief.
Overview
Elena
- Demographics: 28 years old, Latina
- Housing: Homeowner in a rural town near Lebanon, Indiana
- Health: Poor mental health due to grief, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Rheumatoid arthritis
- Education: High school diploma, nurse aid certification, considering LPN or BSN
- Employment: Certified Nursing Assistant
- Income: $18/hour
- Transportation: 5-year-old car with two years of payments remaining
Diego
- Demographics: 4 years old, male, Hispanic/Latino, and Black
- Health: Asthma
Camila
- Demographics: 2 years old, female, Hispanic/Latina, and Black
- Health:
- Born premature, hospitalized for 30 days at birth
- Due to preemie status, needs regular assessment for developmental, physical, and occupational therapy
Learn About the Garcia Family’s:
The Garcia Family’s Story
Elena Garcia relaxed on a picnic blanket under the warm sun in a quiet park. Her children, Camila, 2, and Diego, 4, played nearby—melted ice cream and delight on their faces.
“This is the first time we’ve done this since their dad passed,” said Elena, 28. “We used to go to the park every Friday and grab ice cream on the way home. I want my kids to remember our tradition.”
Wyatt Edwards, 29, was Elena’s partner and the father of Camila and Diego. He died three months ago from complications of COVID-19. The young family has been working through grief and uncertainty ever since, but Elena is determined to break through the fog.
The couple bought their house nearly seven years ago. Thanks to their hard work, the cute fixer-upper has come a long way, but the location in rural Boone County isn’t working for Elena anymore.
“It’s time to move,” Elena said. “I drive more than 30 minutes to work—if lucky. I can’t find a space in a daycare, I can’t keep up with the big yard, and I can’t handle being too far from a hospital—not with Diego’s asthma.”
Elena is an Indiana National Guard veteran working with her VA caseworker to find resources for child care, housing, and continuing her education. She works as a certified nursing assistant, but the $18 an hour isn’t enough. She’d like to earn her bachelor’s degree and become a nurse.
“I come from a big, close-knit family,” she said, “and they all live in California. I can’t afford to live there, and I don’t want to lose my veteran benefits if I move out of state.”
Elena looks on while her children collect bugs on the grass. “We’ve been through a lot together,” she said. “Some days, I struggle to get out of bed. But like mamá said—I’m a fighter. And I will fight so my children have the best I can give them.”
Note: The Garcia family’s story is a work of fiction. Their experiences represent circumstances real Hoosiers face every day.
Economic Stability
Elena moved from California to Indianapolis as a young woman, eager for independence. “My friend came here for college, and I tagged along to be her roommate while I figured out my path.”
It didn’t take Elena long to find her footing. She found a job as a hospital clerk, enlisted in the Indiana National Guard, and trained to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). At 21, Elena deployed overseas for a year. When she returned, she moved in with her partner, Wyatt, a forklift driver for a manufacturing plant.
“Wyatt was always a dreamer,” Elena said. “We hadn’t finished unpacking at our new apartment, and he was already talking about how we should buy a house. I would have followed him anywhere.”
With savings and a first-time homebuyer program, they bought a three-bedroom fixer-upper in a rural area near Lebanon, Indiana. It was the halfway point between their jobs. The couple spent weekends working on the house or gardening.
At 25, Elena gave birth to their son, Diego, and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. The couple struggled to make ends meet when Elena took time off work after her son’s birth and to recover from her rheumatoid arthritis flare-up. Eventually, she returned to work part-time but chose not to renew her National Guard contract.
Two years later, Wyatt and Elena’s daughter, Camila, was born prematurely, requiring a month-long hospitalization. Soon after, Wyatt contracted COVID-19, which led to his own lengthy hospital stay.
Black Americans had a 2.9 times greater risk for COVID-19 hospitalization and a 1.9 times greater risk of death compared to white Americans. Wyatt had asthma, which increased his risk of complications.
It’s been three months since Wyatt’s death from complications due to COVID-19. Elena feels like she’s drowning in decisions, debt, and an overwhelming desire to stay in bed all day. Wyatt’s life insurance was just enough to cover his funeral expenses
Elena has returned to full-time work as a CNA, earning $18 an hour. During Wyatt’s illness and after his death, Elena’s retired neighbor, Debbie, stepped in to provide child care. But the retired schoolteacher’s health is declining.
“I know I can’t rely on Miss Debbie forever,” Elena said, noting the challenge of finding formal child care in her rural area. While Diego will start On My Way Pre-K, finding care for Camila has been harder.
As a single working mom, she’s constantly battling her desire to cook homemade, balanced meals and the necessity for convenient dinners. Her veteran’s assistance case manager is connecting her with resources like SNAP, which can help her afford more options.
“I’m trying to take it one step at a time,” she said, “but it feels like I’m always behind.”
Education Access and Quality
High-quality child care and preschool improve economic outcomes for children throughout life.
Elena is a determined single mother juggling her job as a certified nursing assistant, raising two young children, and contemplating her future. She is considering using her veteran’s benefits to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing for a more stable income.
But balancing school, work, and motherhood feels overwhelming. Elena is working with her VA case manager to find a home in a community where her children can thrive academically and have the best start in life.
“My top priority is making sure my kids get a good education,” she said. “I have to give them the best start. Once I figure out their child care and schooling, I can worry about returning to school myself.”
Health Care Access and Quality
Wyatt caught COVID-19 and developed severe complications that led to his three-week hospitalization. Following his release, he still had trouble breathing and easily became fatigued.
“He felt like he could never get enough air,” Elena said. “He had asthma, and he could manage it OK until COVID.”
One day, Wyatt felt short of breath, so he used his inhaler and texted Elena to let her know he was having a hard time. She came home from work early while the kids were still in Miss Debbie’s care next door.
“When I walked in, Wyatt’s lips had a bluish tint,” she said. “I tried to stay calm—he was lying on the couch, and I called 911.”
Wyatt lost consciousness and became unresponsive. The 911 dispatcher coached Elena through CPR, which she continued for 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived. But it was too late. Wyatt had a pulmonary embolism and died of acute respiratory distress before he could get to the hospital.
The trauma of Wyatt’s last day haunts Elena. It triggered the PTSD she’s tried to manage since her military service. She struggles to sleep most nights. Elena and her children are covered by Medicaid, but Elena has been putting off treatment for her rheumatoid arthritis, which flares under stress.
“I’m so focused on taking care of Diego and Camila that I keep forgetting to take care of myself,” she said. “I know I can’t ignore my health. But when do I have the time?”
It takes emergency medical services an average of more than 14 minutes to arrive in rural settings. Nearly 1 in 10 people in rural areas wait almost 30 minutes for EMS responders. [iv]
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Public transit is often limited to large cities. Ride-share services are limited in rural areas.
Elena loves the home she chose with her late partner, Wyatt, but living in rural Indiana is challenging. Elena worries about her children, who have become withdrawn and struggled since their father’s death. Like his father, Diego also has asthma, and this terrifies Elena.
“I wish we didn’t have to move from the home Wyatt and I shared, but I would feel much safer if we were closer to a hospital,” she said.
Elena has two years of payments remaining on her five-year-old car. She tries to be efficient with her errands to cut down on miles. “I’m used to the long drives, but it wears on me,” she said. “Thirty minutes to the grocery store if I’m lucky, 40 minutes to work—and don’t get me started on what I pay for gas.”
Access to services like high-speed internet is hard to get in her area. “We tried to get broadband when we moved in, but there’s nothing out here. I rely on my phone for everything,” she said. “I drive to the library for my continuing ed coursework or to find resources for my kids.”
Broadband or high-speed internet access is a “super determinant” of health. It has a key role in employment, education outcomes, and access to health care. Elena is among the 16% of Hoosier households who do not have high-speed internet.
47% of motor vehicle fatalities happen on rural roads.
Cars speed past Elena’s house on their way to the nearby interstate. There’s no sidewalk—only a ditch along her road—so there’s no safe way to walk down her street. She makes sure the kids play in the backyard.
Her yard is large—too much for her to handle on her own. “I don’t have time to mow as much as I would like,” she said. “It’s getting buggy out, and we’re seeing more mice in the field. I don’t need them in my house!”
Elena had a vegetable garden with Wyatt but hasn’t been able to maintain it. She has some heirloom seeds from previous harvests. “I’ll start a new garden with the kids once we move to town,” she said. “It’s like taking a bit of our first home with us.”
She is applying for housing assistance to move closer to her job, but affordable options outside Indianapolis are scarce. “I’m doing my best, but it’s a lot. I’m going to find a place where my kids can thrive.”
Social and Community Context
1 in 3 women who seek VA health care reported they have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment during military service.
Not long after moving to Indiana, Elena met with a recruiter for the Indiana National Guard. It seemed like the perfect opportunity—she loved the idea of being part of a team.
“Growing up with four older brothers, life was always loud and chaotic,” she said. “But my parents kept order in the house to keep us all in line. In the Guard, I thrived on the structure and discipline.”
Elena’s determined spirit helped her excel in her training, and she was eager to climb the ranks. However, as a woman of color in a male-dominated space, she encountered obstacles that were difficult to navigate.
“There was this superior officer—he made things uncomfortable,” she said. “I reported him for sexual harassment, but nothing came of it. After that, I knew my career wasn’t going the way I hoped.”
Elena was deployed overseas, where her unit participated in reconstruction missions. When she returned home, fatigue and stress took a toll. She was diagnosed with PTSD and rheumatoid arthritis, conditions tied to her trauma and exposure to hazardous chemicals during deployment.
While grateful to have a diagnosis and treatment plan, it’s also been a source of grief. The autoimmune disorder is an invisible disability, and she’s found some people don’t take it seriously despite her severe fatigue and joint pain.
Elena learned to manage her PTSD and get her rheumatoid arthritis into remission. However, the grief and trauma from Wyatt’s death have led to flare-ups and recurring symptoms. After six years, Elena chose not to renew her contract with the Guard. “It was a hard decision, but my body couldn’t take it anymore, and neither could my mind,” she said.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common diagnosis among survivors of military sexual trauma.
About half of veterans haven’t connected with available resources and benefits following their separation from service. Improving the transition to civilian life can improve health, homelessness, suicide rates, unemployment, and poverty.
Her transition to civilian life came with new challenges. She sometimes felt isolated from other parents and couldn’t relate to them. However, she also struggled to stay connected with her military friends because of her parenting responsibilities. Elena sometimes feels guilty for being so isolated from her family.
“I come from a big Mexican family—siblings, cousins everywhere. My kids don’t have that here. But I can’t afford to start over in San Diego.”
While she considered moving back to California to be close to them again, she didn’t want to lose her Indiana-based veteran benefits for herself and her children. For now, Elena is trying to prioritize finding a new home in a town or city in Indiana.
“I’ve been through a lot,” she said. “I’m still standing—and now I’m putting down roots.”
Resource Highlights
Depending on eligibility, someone experiencing these challenges may access the following resources and supports:
FSSA
- Child Care and Development Fund Child Care Vouchers
- Child Care Finder
- First Steps | Early Intervention Services
- Head Start and Early Head Start
- Indiana 211
- Indiana 988
- Indiana Health Coverage Programs Providers
- Medicaid
- On My Way Pre-K
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Other Resources
Military and Veteran Resources
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Benefits for family members and options for those with no internet-connected devices
- Beyond MST VAMobile App
- Center for Women Veterans Resources
- COMPACT Act Community Partner Resource Hub
- Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers, 2023 Edition
- Indianapolis Regional Offices (Benefits)
- Military Sexual Trauma
- Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator
- VA benefits for family and caregivers
- Women’s Veterans Care Indiana
- The PACT Act and your VA benefits
- Resources and Support
Other Resources
- Code of Support Foundation
- Helping Veterans And Families (HVAF) of Indiana Inc.
- Military OneSource
- Mission 22
- Psych Armor
- Veterans United Foundation
- Women’s Vet USA | Indiana
Note: The Garcia family and their story are works of fiction. Their experiences represent circumstances real Hoosiers face every day
