Geovanna was only five years old when vulnerability tragically entered her life. While tending a flock in Ocongate, in the rugged province of Cuzco (Peru), the collapse of a stone wall caused her to suffer a severe traumatic brain injury. After a difficult 36-hour journey by horse and bus, she arrived at the hospital in an almost vegetative state.
After several months, when doctors had little hope of her recovery and her biological parents, who had no financial resources, were forced to relinquish parental custody, Geovanna was transferred to the Hogar Clínica San Juan de Dios in Cuzco. It was there that providence had prepared a life-changing encounter for her. At the centre were Julián and Filo, two young Spanish missionaries who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, decided not to pass by her extreme vulnerability: they saw her, allowed themselves to be moved by compassion, and took action.
One day, while Filo was feeding the little girl, she made a funny gesture and Geovanna responded with a burst of laughter. That moment, which became known as “Geovanna’s awakening,” marked the beginning of an unbreakable bond. When severe seizures appeared that could not be treated in Peru, Julián and Filo knew what they had to do: moved by deep compassion, they decided to offer her unconditional acceptance and make her part of their family. Through the Peruvian programme “Ángeles que aguardan” (“Angels Who Await”), they managed to bring her to Spain in 2006 to receive the treatment she needed.
Today, at the age of 28, the serious consequences of her injury prevent her from walking or speaking, but Geovanna radiates the inherent and inviolable dignity of every person. She communicates through her gaze, smiles and gestures, and has become the true centre of her home. Her siblings —Clara, Alba, Andrés and Gloria— have grown up fully embracing her, learning that caring for fragile life transforms the heart.
Julián and Filo now highlight the immeasurable value of the care she received and the essential work of institutions such as the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God and the Hospitaller Sisters. Their work demonstrates that, by bringing together science and charity, medical care and humanity, it is possible to restore hope to those who need it most. For her family, Geovanna is not defined by her illness; she is a true gift.
