The case of María Consuelo Córdoba, a 58-year-old Colombian woman gravely disfigured after an acid attack by her husband, drew widespread attention after, as a last resort, she went to the media outlet ‘City TV’ claiming that she was considering euthanasia.
Her final plea on August 31 followed a two-decade struggle with chronic pain, multiple medical procedures, and systemic abandonment, which left her living on the streets.
But Córdoba story caught the attention of the public, who raised the funds needed for a life-changing surgery and led her to abandon the prospect of euthanasia.
Córdoba, who is from the Pacific Region of Colombia, spoke to Latin America Reports about her struggle after the acid attack in 2000.
She revealed that her ex-husband was released from prison after just four months for the attack, which forced her to have over 80 surgeries and rely on breathing tubes to survive.
“My own daughter left me behind. When she saw me burned, she rejected me… She moved to Europe and changed her name to avoid any responsibility. My mother also abandoned me when I was a baby, and my father also left when I was only 9… I am completely alone in this world,” Córdoba said.
Severely injured, she was forced to beg on the streets to survive and pay for the cheap room rented day-by-day where she used to sleep, without knowing where her next meal would come from, and facing severe pain and depression.
As begging became harder due to her worsening condition, she made a final plea for help before initiating the euthanasia process.
“Right now, what I want the most is the surgery on my nose. Every 20 days they have to change these thick tubes, and it causes me so much pain,” Córdoba revealed.
In her conversation with Latin America Reports, Córdoba confessed that she was clinging to one last hope, caught between her desperation to surrender and her desire to hold on.
She tearfully recalled a promise made to Pope Francis on September 7, 2017.
During the papal visit to Bogotá, Córdoba tried to reach out to him at the Nunciatura Apostólica, where he was staying, to ask for a blessing to die in peace.
Due to her condition, the Pope answered her call, but told her that she was brave and urged her never to lose hope.
“I am a warrior,” she said. “God knows everything I have suffered and how hard I have fought in this life… Nobody can suffer forever, right?”
Days after her case gained national attention, public health provider Capital Salud released a statement confirming that her euthanasia procedure had been authorized and was ready to be carried out.
Yet, Córdoba decided not to go ahead with this process as she finally received the support needed to schedule her dream surgeries: two reconstructive procedures, paid for by citizens who heard about her story through media outlets and content creators like Juan José Castro, known for his project “Vamos Pa’ Eso“.
According to local media, Córdoba is also getting lifelong financial relief, as she can now count on the support of businessman Arturo Calle, who promised her a home of her own and committed to providing a monthly stipend that will help her cover food and other basic necessities for the rest of her life.
After decades of isolation and pain, she seems to finally have found the dignity and stability she dreamed of, even after years of fighting in the shadows and begging for help on lonely streets.
Featured image description: Córdoba before the acid attack (left) and her poster telling her story (right).
Featured image credit: Maria Consuelo Córdoba
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