A full house

In the last four days Nettla Gordilla has experienced the tragedy of loss, the joy of giving birth, separation and now hope.

She fled her home in New Orleans to Jackson, Miss., to escape Hurricane Katrina.

She gave birth to twins, Justin and Jesus, Tuesday by emergency Caesarean section in Jackson as Hurricane Katrina hit the area. The hospital ran for two days on a generator because the area was without power.

Armando Gordillo and his mother-in-law, Maxine Michels, drove to Mississippi to pick up Nettla, his sister-in-law, and her three children, Yajaira, 9, Dinah, 5, and Jose, 18 months. They arrived in Cape Girardeau around 11 p.m. Friday.

When she left the hospital, Nettla Gordillo left her parents, her husband, Jose, and daughter Mia because there was not enough room in the car.

Nettla Gordillo and three of her children are now staying with her sister and brother-in-law as well as eight other displaced family members, seven of whom are under the age of 9, in a small two-bedroom duplex. They range in age from just a few days to 59 years.

In addition to letting them stay at their home, Leah and Armando Gordillo are helping them find housing, buy clothing and try to find work.

Leah Gordillo's aunt, Beverly Lowrance, has offered to let some of the family members stay in her home until they can find a place of their own.

Armando Gordillo said he wished he could do more for them.

Looking for work, starting classes

His father, Jesus , does not speak English well but is a phenomenal cook, so they are trying to get him a job in a local restaurant, Leah Gordillo said.

Leah and Armando Gordillo said they are just trying to get their extended family settled and comfortable.

Humberto Gordillo had an interview Saturday morning with Elite Home and Lawn, and he said owner Bruce Baker told him to show up on Tuesday morning to start work.

The school-age children will start school at Trinity Lutheran on Tuesday so they can start having a normal day again. Humberto Gordillo said he grabbed the children's birth certificates and vaccination records as they fled, though he did not need them to enroll his children in Cape Girardeau schools.

"I think it will be good to start back in a normal routine. That's one of the reasons I want to get them an apartment is so they can get settled," Leah Gordillo said.

They don't have pots, pans, silverware or furniture and now that they have clothes they need items to help furnish their future home in Cape Girardeau, she said.

"It is unbelievable how the community reacted to this problem," Armando Gordillo said. He said he is thankful to live in a community that cares so much about even its newest residents.

The first day people brought over food, clothing, beds, pillows and diapers for the family. Leah Gordillo's father, Samuel Michel, donated an older car that is currently not in use for Nettla Gordillo to take the infants to doctor appointments and get around town.

Leah Gordillo will be taking Nettla Gordillo to file for Medicaid early this week while she is waiting for her husband, who is working with a cleanup crew in New Orleans, and her other daughter and her parents. She heard from them Saturday afternoon. They are OK and are going to try to get back into New Orleans Monday morning.

Leah Gordillo works at Saint Francis Medical Center, which donated three $100 Wal-Mart gift cards for the family and has solicited employees to make donations to the family. The hospital also going to help with some of their bills, she said.

If you would like to help the Gordillo family, call Leah Gordillo at 334-9384.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127