The Lopez family was among the first to be helped by the Rainbow Health Emergency Fund. When Rosa Lopez found out she was pregnant, her husband Heriberto knew he had to find a way to provide for his growing family. Unfortunately, Lopez, a former factory worker, was fired from his last job at Custom Trim in Valle Hermoso, Mexico, for his organizing efforts. Under the country's labor law, company-sponsored health insurance is forfeited once an employee is fired.
Health care is available but private care is very expensive.
Clinics for the poor are often overcrowded and poorly run. Since being blacklisted by his previous employer, Lopez has been unable to find work. The Lopez family needed health insurance to care for Rosa and their unborn child. Rosa and Heriberto appealed to Casey and Brian O'Shaughnessy, director of the coalition. O'Shaughnessy and Casey sponsored the family and a healthy baby boy, Ivan, was born in February 2000.