JOYA, JUSTINA + LESLIE, TO THE DIALYSIS HOSPITAL, LIMA, PERU

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THE CROSS Justina Humani was born in poverty. At 15 on older man wanted her. “She never had a choice,” says her youngest child of seven, Johnny Hilares. “She was blessed with the power to heal but she did not have the right to be happy. Peru was so catholic. Birth control wasn’t available. My father only hurt her. The custom where she lived was to tie down women in labor. Justina had to cut her own umbilical cords. Later on, she became a mid wife to help other women, Says Johnny “I respected women because of who my mother was.” Johnny Hilares NYC