A Mother’s Sacrifice
The woman was a single mother. She had been married once and borne a daughter. The marriage did not last. The man did not linger too much longer after the birth of her child.
She called the little girl Amalia. As she held the tiny creature in her arms, a huge tide of love washed over her. With tears running down her cheek, she promised the newborn child, “I will never abandon you. I will love and cherish you to the last breath left my body. You will become everything that I was not able to be.”
She, herself was young. She was barely out of her teens. She had no family here. She and a girl friend had decided to leave the impoverished South American country where they were born, where they were always hungry and oh so very poor. Together the two seventeen-year-old girls managed to get to New York. Once here, they found others from their country. She and her friend found jobs cleaning homes. They shared a tiny apartment with another girl with whom they had become friendly. She did not shirk work. In her country, there were many days that she slept with a stomach rumbling with hunger. She never had owned new clothes. She went barefoot. Over here, she worked hard and earned more money than she had ever seen in her life! She worked eagerly and with a happy smile upon her face. Soon, she had a steady stream of regular jobs. She began to save. She sent part of her savings to her family at home. Life was good.
She had been in New York about a year when she noticed a handsome young man loitering about near where she lived. He would smile at her as she passed. She ignored him at first, but then her curiosity was piqued. She began to smile back. Then they spoke. One thing led to another. They got married. She became with child. But the man had a roving eye. Very soon he became bored. By the time the infant was born, he had already abandoned her and was chasing after other women.
She gave birth to a little girl and called her Amalia. She found someone to look after her baby during the daytime while she worked. She was young. She was strong. She needed money. She worked long hours. She wanted the best that she could obtain for her cherished daughter. She gained the reputation of being a hard worker. She was pleasant and she was honest. Soon she was very much in demand. She developed a steady clientele. She was frugal and saved her money. The only thing she did not hesitate to spend on was Amalia. She moved to a more desirable area so that Amalia would be able to receive a better education amongst more affluent people. She did not mind wearing old mended clothes, but her daughter had to wear the best the mother could afford to dress her in. As she grew older, Amalia realized the sacrifices her mother had made for her. She studied hard and was always amongst the top in her class. She observed how the more well-off students spoke and carried themselves. Amalia strived to emulate them. She applied to a reputable college and was accepted. She received a partial scholarship, which made things easier.
Her mother was elated! She was thrilled and couldn’t believe their good fortune! Her daughter was accepted to college! College! Can you believe that?
A few years prior, one of her ladies suffered a stroke and needed an aide. Because she had worked for this lady for quite a few years, the family asked her if she would be willing to become her caregiver. The salary was more substantial. She took the job. It meant she would be away from home for two weeks at a time. She offered her good friend with whom she had come here and who needed a place to call home, a room in lieu of taking care of Amalia, cooking for her, and making sure she was safe. It worked out well for both women, and Amalia was content with the situation. Her mother’s friend was like an aunt to her. And so, for the four years that Amalia was in college, her mother took care of one elderly lady and then another when the first one passed away. She supplemented her income by baking and cooking and selling the food to members of her community, for she was a good cook. In this manner, she provided her child with little luxuries. She dreamt of the day her daughter would graduate. There had never been a college graduate in her family, not in her wildest dream did she think that a daughter of hers would. “Can you imagine my daughter is graduating from a prestigious college?” she kept asking herself as she toiled towards that goal. “Maybe she would become a doctor, or perhaps an attorney?” she thought as she patiently spoon-fed the elderly woman in her care. She smiled at the notion.
At last, the day arrived. Amalia was graduating! Oh, the joy in that mother’s heart! She arranged to be off a week for the occasion. She invited their friends to celebrate with her and Amalia in a restaurant that her clients frequented and spoke of favorably. Nothing but the best was good enough for her Amalia! Oh, the joy she felt! She was so proud of her daughter’s accomplishments. She walked on air, on cloud nine. At the graduation ceremony, as her Amalia walked up to the stage to receive her diploma, the poor woman was sure that everyone could hear her heart thumping loudly with joy. All the years she toiled, struggled, scrimped, and saved have come to fruition. She had succeeded in giving her daughter a college education! It was such a great personal triumph. Her heart soared with pride. Her face beamed with joy.
That night she, Amalia, and their guests celebrated at the restaurant. Amalia could not stop smiling. Her mother glowed with pride. Their friends were happy for them. They believed that if it was possible for Amalia to graduate from college, then it was perhaps possible for their children to do so as well. There was a joyous atmosphere at that table.
The mother wanted her daughter to relax a bit before she started looking for a job. She had noticed that Amalia’s hands were shaking. She was sure it was because Amalia had been under a great deal of strain studying. Two weeks later her hands were still shaking, but now the tremors seemed to be more acute. Alarmed, the mother took her to the doctor. That began a series of tests and more tests. Finally, they got the result. Multiple sclerosis. God no! God no! Why, why? Have mercy, God! The mother walked around with tears pouring down her cheeks. The daughter was numb, as if encased in a pillar of ice. All their endeavors, all their struggles, hopes and dreams and this was the outcome?
“It is futile,” the poor woman thought as hot tears ran down her cheeks. “What made me think that people such as us can dare to dream to rise above our station? Was I too proud of my daughter? Is God punishing me because of my love and pride in her?” All night long she tossed and turned. Hot tears scorched her cheeks and soaked her pillow. She was back at work taking care of the elderly woman, while her daughter had no one to attend to her. Why was life so difficult? Why could she not get a break? What had her poor daughter ever done to deserve this?
She resigned herself to their destiny. She worked even harder. She needed even more money to support her daughter now that she was ill. Amelia had been interested in scientific research and earned her degree in that. She decided that once she was better and the results came back, she might be able to concentrate on that.
And so life went on. It wasn’t the rosy picture they had painted of their future. Amelia willed herself to prevent the advancement of that awful disease. Her mother continued to care for the elderly. Once in a while, they would each pause to remember their hopes and dreams. They would shake their heads in sad regret and continue with what they were doing and reflect upon their dreams. They smiled sadly and carried on with life such as it had become…