Mexico City, 2009, Canela, a resident at CasaXochiquetzal, takes a visiting dog on a walk. Originally from Oaxaca, Canela came to Mexico City to work at a very young age. She is now well known and respected in the neighborhoods that surround Casa Xochiquetzal. At 72, she suffers from Down’s Syndrome and a number of other illnesses. Of all the women at Casa Xochiquetzal, Canela is the only one who did not have children. Most women who live at Casa Xochiquetzal have relatives, but for a number of them, contact is sporadic or non-
existent.