Arturo: A Radical Decision for Love

The other day, while collecting these bags from the CRS, I met Arturo. Always so calm, so serene, but with a story that few would dare to tell.

Arturo, a 35-year-old man, husband and father of three children. He was an ordinary man, with a simple life full of love. However, one day everything changed abruptly and heartbreakingly. His wife, the light of his life, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The treatment that could save her was expensive, and the family did not have the means to pay for it. Desperate to save her, Arturo made a radical decision.

He robbed a bank.

Yes, that's right. Arturo became a bank robber in the hope of saving his wife and keeping his family together. In his mind, there was no other option. But fate was not so kind. He was caught and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

During the time he was in the hospital, Arturo did not let himself be defeated by despair. He quickly began making bags, each stitch being a way of sending money to his wife, so that she could receive the necessary treatment. Already at the CRS, Arturo has a workshop with 4 people. His skills have become one of the best technicians, and these bags that you see will be exported to the United States.

Arturo told me that he fondly remembers his wife, who sadly lost her battle with cancer. His voice broke as he spoke of her, but his eyes shone with a mixture of sadness and determination.

Arturo has no regrets about what he did. “I would do it again, without hesitation,” he told me firmly. His story reminds us that sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that most define our humanity. Every stitch on these bags is a testament to his love and sacrifice.

Every purchase of these bags not only supports Arturo and his children, but also encourages second chances. It shows us that even in the darkest of times, light and purpose can be found.