Well before the sunrise touches the red cliffs of Monument Valley, Bernina is already awake.

Each weekday, she rises at 3 a.m. to tend her livestock before beginning the long drive to Kaibeto, Arizona, where she serves as a Community Health Representative (CHR) for families in the western Navajo Nation. The commute alone takes an hour and a half. From there, her work continues across miles of rugged terrain — dirt roads that turn slick with clay and are filled with ridges that rattle vehicles.

“Sometimes the roads get really bad.  They’re like washboards. It’s got a clay mud. It just keeps sticking to your shoes, and you get taller and taller,” says Bernina, laughing.

She visits 24 patients scattered across remote corners of the chapter — Elders, people with disabilities, and individuals managing serious health conditions. Her work is both clinical and deeply personal: checking vital signs, helping patients stay on medication, teaching healthy habits, and ensuring no one navigates illness alone.

“CHRs are keeping them healthy to live longer,” she says. “We teach them how to eat healthy, get their checkups, get their medication, and protect them from things that are going on.”

At 50 years old, Bernina returned to school to become a CHR after working as a correctional officer. She has now served her community in this role for nearly two years. Caring for Elders carries special meaning for her.

“My mom never grew old on me,” she says. “I experience that through my patients.”

Far from paved roads and utility lines, one of the families Bernina visits lives deep in the rugged landscape of Navajo Canyon near the base of Navajo Mountain.

Edwina, Bruce, and their son Nolan live 24 miles down a dirt road in a wide valley surrounded by juniper trees. Their home is not connected to running water or electricity. A solar panel charges a battery in the valley below, which must be hauled back to power what appliances they can use.

Daily life requires constant work. Nolan gathers firewood, which is a constant need to keep their home at a comfortable temperature for his parents. He also hauls water and helps maintain the household. With no reliable vehicle, trips for supplies require careful preparation.

“It depends on whether someone gives us a ride,” says Nolan. “Sometimes I stay here with my dad while my mom goes out.”

Bruce’s health needs require regular monitoring, and Nolan — who once served as his father’s in-home caregiver — remains close by to help. Edwina contributes through her lifelong art. A basket weaver since age 13, she gathers natural materials from the valley and continues a family tradition of artistry that helps support the household.

Bernina’s CHR visits bring more than medical care.

She checks Bruce’s vitals, helps coordinate appointments, and often transports him to specialty care — something the family says would be difficult without her. Over time, her role has grown into something deeper than professional support. Through Navajo clan connections, they discovered they are relatives.

“We didn’t know she was our sister!” says Edwina, laughing.

“It helps to know that I have relatives out here,” says Bernina.

Her visits also bring practical resources. Through the Healthy Living service of Southwest Reservation Aid® (SWRA) — a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) — Bernina delivers hygiene supplies, household cleaners, and essential personal care items to families living far from stores and services.

“That helps a lot,” says Nolan.

Just as important, the visits bring connection. For a family living in a remote valley, a familiar face at the door matters. They are grateful that Bernina takes the extra time to spend with them.

Across Kaibeto, Bernina’s work strengthens both health and community. She supports families navigating chronic illness, geographic isolation, and limited infrastructure — while also honoring the traditional lifeways that sustain well-being. Many Elders remain active outdoors, herding sheep and living close to the land, practices that often support their health.

“It’s really good that PWNA helps out with hygiene supplies,” says Bernina. “That’s what they need out there.”

For families like Nolan, Edwina, and Bruce, the partnership makes everyday life more manageable — helping them care for one another, maintain their traditions, and stay connected to essential services despite the distance.

From their home in the valley, Nolan offers a simple message to those who help make this support possible: “Ahéhee [Thank you]. It really does help.”

And through the work of CHRs like Bernina, support travels miles of rough road—reaching families not just with supplies, but with care, connection, and community.