I arrived at Vizcaínos back in 2020 the way many of us do: in a new city, living away from home for the first time, and without a single person I trusted within reach unless I hopped on a plane.

And yet, the moment I walked through the doors of Vizcaínos and was welcomed by Ruth and Nacho’s warm smiles, both my mum and I knew I was in safe hands.

It only took a positive COVID test a few weeks in and an emergency operation six months later to prove us right.

Just a month after moving into Vizcaínos, I tested positive for COVID. I had barely had time to get to know my new friends, so the support from the Vizcaínos team was crucial for my mental health. During my three weeks of quarantine, I was never short of love or care. From Elisa, the cook, spoiling me with my favourite meals, to the lovely reception staff taking a few minutes out of their day to sit on the other side of my door, chat and keep me company, they made sure I never felt alone.

And around six months later, when I had appendicitis, at a time when COVID restrictions were still very much in place, Ruth and Nacho showed up at the hospital in the middle of the night, determined to make sure I didn’t go into surgery without a kiss and a hug first (which, sadly, hospital restrictions ended up making impossible).

I arrived at Vizcaínos just looking for a place to live, and it ended up being the place where I grew up the most. I went from being a girl who had never lived on her own to a woman learning to figure things out for herself, but with the comfort of knowing that, if anything went wrong, I had people I could count on. People who, even after all these years, I still consider my family.