After 15 years of taking emergency calls, nothing prepared Vanessa for the trembling voice of 8-year-old Liliana: “It was my dad and his friend. My tummy hurts really bad.
”Officer López found Liliana alone, swollen-bellied and scared. Her parents, struggling with illness and poverty, hadn’t noticed how sick she’d become. Tests later revealed a parasitic infection—likely from contaminated food or water. The town buzzed with judgment, but the truth was more human than cruel. As Liliana recovered, social services stepped in. Not to tear the family apart—but to help them heal, together. And maybe, start again—with support and love.
