Junior Honorary Helps Near Border Monthly

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 18:03

The University of Arizona has many well known groups around campus including Bobcats Senior Honorary, Chimes Junior Honorary and Chain Gang Junior Honorary to name a few.

Associated Students of The University of Arizona, also known as ASUA, sponsor these groups and help them to continue to be leaders on campus. One of the groups that helps a woman in Arivaca, Ariz., is the Chain Gang Junior Honorary.

Chain Gang consists of 35 UA juniors each year who work on projects throughout the semester like Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Tu Nidito Charity Ball, Save the Children, Relay for Life, and Race for the Cure.

In addition to the events and projects throughout the year, a few members of Chain Gang, usually between three and five, go down to the border each month and provide supplies to a woman who has a rare disease and is allergic to sunlight.

Just over 15 years ago, Jana Dispigno was diagnosed with Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. Lupus can affect different body systems including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart and lungs. In Dispigno’s case, her skin is affected drastically.

“Chain Gang started working and helping Jana about 10 years ago getting involved by a church group," said Jimmy Mackenzie, a former ASUA Senator and current Chain Gang member. “I am the one in charge for organizing and making sure we have the right supplies each month we go and visit with Jana.”

“I attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and later went on pursuing my love for horses," said Jana Dispigno. "I became an Equestrian trainer for several years until I became very ill and got diagnosed with Lupus 16 years ago."

Jana now lives in a trailer in Arivaca, Ariz., located about five to ten miles northwest of the border, according to Mackenzie.

“Also living in Arivaca is her only daughter, Misty Dispigno, who cares for her mother and is a big help with Chain Gang with making sure we have the right supplies for Jana,” Mackenzie said.

“My husband up and left us when we found out that I had Lupus,” said Jana Dispigno. “All I ever really come into contact is my daughter, the group from the university and my dog Sam.”

“I don’t ever talk with my father. He left me and mom in a horrible situation and I just never really got over the whole thing,” said Misty Dispigno. “I see mom a few days of the week and do my own thing to support myself and help my mom out.”

“It’s a long trip,” said Stephen Wallace, current Chain Gang Member. “We leave around five in the evening and don’t get back to campus until like three in the morning.”

Chain Gang goes down at night because Jana is allergic to sunlight and wants to take all precautions. Jana said she can’t really be around radio or electrical waves because it could cause internal bleeding.

“She won’t touch the TV remote buttons or cell phones buttons. She will only if she has her thick gloves on,” said Mackenzie.

“Generally we bring her oxygen tanks, distilled water, flashlights, canned goods, fruits, veggies, light bulbs, flashlights and dog food on each of our trips or every other for some of the supplies,” said Mackenzie. “We just stop at Misty’s, get some of the supplies and head over to Jana’s and drop off her needs and take it from there.”

“Another thing we do is each time we bring ammonia and spray it in her ventilation to keep out bacteria,” said Mackenzie. “We also have huge black trash bags that we take from her home and take them to a dumpster for her.”

Showing up to her trailer was very different from what I had pictured, Wallace said.

“The windows and doors were sealed with metallic duct tape,” said Wallace. “I don’t think any light could ever get in there.”

Delivering the supplies, spraying the ammonia, collecting her trash and hanging out with Jana is half the adventure usually. “Almost every time I have gone, we get pulled over by the U.S. Border Patrol,” said Mackenzie. “It was really scary the first time because we didn’t understand at all why.”

“I guess having large black bags in the bed of a truck can kind of look suspicious at two in the morning,” said Mackenzie. Chain Gang has gotten pulled over several times this past year.

Between helping out a woman in need for a great cause and being tailgated by the U.S. Border Patrol at night, Chain Gang does some great things for the community and in Southern Arizona and will continue on their tradition for years to come.

Q and A with current Chain Gang Member Jimmy Mackenzie:

Q: You have gone to basically every trip so far, what has been your best experience so far with Jana?

JM: Yeah, I have gone down all but one time. I am the "Leader" for our trips so I kinda I have to go. But, my favorite thing about going is knowing how Jana has delt with her situation and her husband leaving her. She has been through a lot and I just like to see her doing well and she always appreciates when we show up.

Q: Would you encourage each member of Chain Gang to make the trip down to with you at least once this coming year?

JM: Yeah, of course. We have never had the same group go so far. I like to leave it open to as many each month, but we usually have three or four of us each trip. I would love to see everyone make the experience at least once.

Q: Do you know who got Chain Gang involved with Jana?

JM: No, not really. I just know we started doing this about 10 years ago and have done it since. We got started through a church that used to help her and they parted ways, so we sort of took off from where they left off.

Q: How did you feel the first time you got stopped by border patrol?

JM: Honestly, it wasn't as bad because I have heard many horror stories from past members that used to do the trip. They stop us because we have huge 40 gallon bags of trash that we drop off and it just looks mysterious coming from the border at two or three in the morning. I did feel my heart race once I saw the lights appear from no where the first time.

Q: What went through your mind the first time you picked up the supplies?

JM: It was a little weird. I mean we had the food and water, but then the light bulbs and oxygen tanks were a little weird because I was never told about this beforehand.

Written by Grant Becker