Meet Indira
—Written by Jeremy
“Indira is the most wonderful woman I have ever met, in my biased opinion.
She is caring and focused on family. She is without a doubt our son Samuel’s biggest fan, attentive to his every need, and she was a dedicated mother to our previous son, giving him the care, protection and daily encouragement for him to develop while he was with us. And her medical skills gave him the advantage of receiving the absolute best healthcare.
She’s also a loving daughter, sister, and aunt: Shortly after earning her first paycheck, she bought her mother a dining room table, as a small token to repay her for the love and support while Indira was a child and in medical school. She remains close to her sisters, niece (also our goddaughter), and nephew in Nicaragua, video-calling them every day on WhatsApp. She’s constantly checking in on our nephew and godson, Ezra, buying him new clothes and toys. Despite a strong support network of friends and church community in the DC area, in 2020 she insisted we move closer to my family in upstate New York. That’s what is most important to her.
Indira is resilient. Despite incredibly difficult economic situations, she persevered through medical school in Nicaragua, graduating near the top of her class. In spite of nearly insurmountable challenges, she was accepted into dermatology training in Nicaragua. Without knowing English or having much desire to leave her achievements and comforts in Nicaragua, she took a leap of faith after our wedding to move with me to the US. She learned the language, adapted to the culture, studied for years for medical exams, and not only beat the odds to get into a residency training program in Washington DC — she was selected as the best first-year resident and later elected chief resident (to manage over 20 resident physicians) by her peers in a grueling training program.
She is a strong, principled woman. Her moral compass always pointing north. In a world filled with profit incentives, she makes patient care the core of her vocation, not money nor recognition. Perhaps she is able to do this because of the Catholic values her grandmother instilled in her from a young age. I know that I have been a beneficiary. Before getting married, she insisted we make faith the foundation of our relationship. It has been our saving grace, helping us to persevere in moments of difficulty and to remain humble, thankful, and caring in the victories life has given us. Indira and I now teach Catholic confirmation classes together to high school students looking to grow in faith.
Indira is talented well beyond medicine, too. She loves dancing, particularly anything with salsa, merengue, bachata, or reggaeton, and Zumba is a favorite exercise routine. She’s taught me a few dance moves, and is patient (and often laughs) when I step on her toes. Indira has a beautiful voice. While we still lived in Maryland (and previously in Nicaragua), she played guitar and sang at church, leading the congregation in offering up songs as prayers to God.” —Jeremy
“Indira is one of the most caring people I know; very giving and dedicated to her family and a fierce advocate for her patients.”
—Kathy, Indira’s mother-in-law
