Cece Lomeli-Perez, RN
Holy Cross Clinic at
Poverello House
Cece Lomeli-Perez is the
nurse practitioner at the
Medical Center’s free
clinic in downtown
Fresno for the uninsured
and underserved.
One day a humble man (we’ll call him
“Marcel”), living on the streets for a long
time, came in complaining of severe
itching. Cece discovered that Marcel was
infested with lice and scabies. She got him
cleaned up, treated him and made arrangements
for a free haircut and shave. Once
Marcel’s bushy beard and long hair were
removed, a huge tumor was revealed on his
neck. Cece got him in to see an oncologist
who volunteers at the clinic. Marcel was
diagnosed with throat cancer, as well as an
advanced case of hepatitis C.
Marcel soon lost the ability to speak and
had great difficulty swallowing. Cece did
all she could for him – providing treatment
and pain medication, asking Poverello’s
cooking staff to puree meals, and trying to
find a place in a hospice facility. With no
beds available, she used all her influence
to get him into a hospital. When the
breathing tube was finally removed, Cece
was at Marcel’s side, holding his hand and
encouraging him not to worry anymore,
for he was “going home.” Marcel died
peacefully a few moments later.
Although Marcel was buried in an
unmarked pauper’s grave, Cece plans to
get a stone marker engraved for him.
While the whole experience was
emotionally draining, Cece says she’d
do it again in a heartbeat.