By: Teena Maliakal

Camila Gutierrez from Bogota, Colombia, is living proof of her family's dedication to helping others and how that dedication extended beyond continents.

Her parents, Fabio Gutierrez and Ana Rivera, were deeply involved with La Cruz Roja Colombiana. Fabio started at a young age to make friends and help others in his community, as he and his grandmother lived far from other family members. Ana began in her early 20s after her mother was diagnosed with cancer, which motivated her to learn first aid. Although Ana dreamed of joining the military, her height led to rejection, prompting her to find another way to offer her service. Camila’s parents met through La Cruz Roja Colombiana when Fabio became Ana’s instructor, and they continued working together.

Fabio would use his experience to aid those impacted by the Armero Disaster, a catastrophic event that followed the 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz, which triggered massive mudslides that buried the town.

When Fabio was working, it was difficult for the couple to stay in contact since email and phones weren't as common. Even worse, whenever Ana traveled to Armero by Red Cross transportation to see him, he would be on his way to meet her in Bogota for rest, causing them to miss each other.

When the two finally saw each other, Fabio’s coworkers wouldn't let Ana disturb him because he needed to catch up on sleep lost during 38-hour shifts working on disaster aid. Despite everything, the couple ended up together, dedicating their lives to volunteering for the Red Cross. They made their service a family affair by involving their daughter Camila.

Camila didn't have a typical childhood. She was surrounded by people involved with the Red Cross, from her parents to family friends. Instead of playing with kids her age, she would attend Red Cross drills, training sessions, and events with her family.

As the first child of the local Red Cross group, her parents' friends spoiled her. They would have her act as a client during drills, asking her to appear distressed and wear fake blood. Seeing her parents’ service to the community and experiencing the work of the Red Cross inspired Camila to make her own impact as a Red Cross volunteer.

The only break her parents took from volunteering with the Red Cross was to focus on her younger sister, Mariana. She was born with scoliosis and became a Red Cross “Gray Lady.” Mariana then founded Talita Cumi, an organization dedicated to helping children with scoliosis, giving her the chance to follow her passion for assisting those facing the same condition she experienced.

Overall, Camilia’s whole family is involved in a humanitarian mission. Fabio and Mariana are more hands-on, while Ana and Camila support logistical services. Remembering not being able to communicate in earlier days, for example, Ana asked a pager company for equipment donations. Even the family's German Shepherd, Gero, searches for people lost in disasters as part of a search-and-rescue (SAR) team.

Camila volunteered with the American Red Cross when her husband transferred to Dallas, Texas. She enjoys this new experience despite missing her family and friends back home. Camila knows where she wants to be, especially since she's interested in learning how the infrastructure in the U.S. compares to that of Colombia. She remembers times when her parents were the first ones called for disaster services due to limited organization and a lack of people.

More than just a family tradition, Camila feels it is a blessing to help others, just like it was in her parents' blood and soul. As part of the North Texas Region Disaster Action Team, she understands that you don't have to be a first responder to assist the Red Cross.

Her work is in four main areas: collaborating with fire stations to support Spanish-speaking individuals, giving hands-only CPR and Be Red Cross Ready training to adults, using Pedro With Pedro to educate children about fire safety, and promoting Red Cross initiatives like Sound the Alarm and Blood Services. One of her future goals is to be deployed to a disaster.

She has enjoyed her experience with the Red Cross because of how they care for each volunteer. After she responded to three fires in one week, the Red Cross made her feel protected and valued as a volunteer, both physically and mentally.

“As long as you're doing something—whether it's with your time, your money, or anything else—you'll make a difference”