Sina’s Story: Creating a Brighter Future

Sina had always wanted to be a nurse, but the mother of two in her mid-thirties thought there were too many obstacles in her way to realize that dream. With the encouragement of her husband, resources accessed through Sister Carmen Community Center (SCCC), and her sheer determination, Sina recently graduated from an accelerated program at CU Anschutz with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is now working as a Registered Nurse in the emergency department of a local hospital.

Earning a nursing degree is difficult under the best of circumstances, but with the hurdles Sina faced, it’s downright miraculous that she was able to complete this rigorous program in so short a period. Around the time she started the program, her husband was fired from his job as a ramp agent, handling luggage for an airline, when he was declared legally blind from cataracts in both eyes. The high-prescription glasses and contacts he had been relying on were no longer sufficient, and cataract surgery was recommended to restore his vision. He had doctors’ notes for missed work, and Human Resources suggested he apply for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to have the surgery. But before he could apply, he was fired by the airline.

“They said he didn’t show up for work without calling in, which is not true,” Sina explained. Initially denied unemployment benefits, her husband had wisely taken screenshots of the FMLA communications with his employer before being blocked from his work computer. This evidence proved why the airline really let him go in September of 2024, and the rejected claim was overturned. But he didn’t start receiving unemployment until April of 2025, and then it only lasted for three months. Insurance would cover part, but not all, of his surgery—leaving the family responsible for $4,000. “We didn’t have that kind of money,” said Sina. “We didn’t have any kind of assistance at that time. We had to apply for food stamps (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program —SNAP) and Medicaid, which didn’t go into effect until December, and he got fired in September.”

With her husband unable to work or drive until after the surgery, Sina was ready to drop out of school and return to her job as a pharmacy tech to support the family as best she could. Most of her school loan funds had already been used to cover their living expenses for the six months they had no income. It was then that a family member urged her to see if Sister Carmen could help.

Sina and Family at Graduation

Sina met with Zoya, an Advocate who runs our Pathways to Economic Stability program. It supports students pursuing the education or skills to secure higher-paying careers. Zoya found state grant funding to cover the cataract surgery, then she helped Sina apply for a scholarship from the Cielo Foundation to help cover her tuition. Sister Carmen also paid some school fees. Section 8 housing vouchers subsidized a little of the family’s rent while her husband was out of work, allowing them to stay housed despite falling behind on utility bills. Zoya assisted with bringing their water bill current through a City of Lafayette program and helped Sina apply for the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) through the state to cover their heating bills. When possible, Sina would shop at our food bank, but her schedule made that difficult. Juggling classes, clinicals, commuting, studying, and family responsibilities, her days started at 4am and ended around midnight. The strain extended to their car. When Zoya learned Sina was driving 70 miles daily in an unsafe car, she reached out to R12 Charities for repairs and provided gas cards to help cover fuel expenses.

“If she wasn’t there to help me with all the stress—my husband being out of work and needing eye surgery we couldn’t afford, our mounting bills, how I was going to get to campus and pay my tuition bill—I wouldn’t have gotten through nursing school,” Sina shared. “It was my husband and my kids pushing me, and Zoya that helped me keep going. If it wasn’t for Sister Carmen, I would have had to quit school to go back to work, and my husband wouldn’t be able to work… or see.”

If it wasn’t for Sister Carmen, I would have had to quit school to go back to work, and my husband wouldn’t be able to work… or see.”

Sina’s husband’s eye surgery was a success, but it took him a year to find a new job. He applied everywhere—Walmart, Target, King Soopers, other airport jobs—indicating availability to work any shift, but received no responses. This September, he finally landed a job assembling wind turbines from 5pm-3:30am, four days a week. However, because the company relies on a government contract, his hours were reduced during the shutdown—and his schedule remains unpredictable.

Finally, all of Sina’s hard work paid off—she passed her nursing licensure exam on the first try and received offers from all three hospitals where she applied! She recently began a new job that provides the best pay and benefits she’s ever had. But even with this success, the road ahead isn’t easy. Higher income means the family will no longer be eligible for government benefits. And now, Sina must immediately start repaying her 19% interest school loan just as they are beginning to regain their financial footing. Through it all, Sister Carmen will continue to walk alongside them—ensuring that Sina and her family have everything they need to thrive.

From government funding cuts, to the pause of SNAP benefits, and the rising cost of housing and healthcare, it’s been another year of historic challenges at Sister Carmen. The government safety net—subsidized housing, SNAP benefits, and Medicaid—that helped keep Sina’s family afloat is deeply frayed. Many families like hers are falling through the gaps. With your support, we can lift up more of them on their path to stability.