Mama

Angelina Maria, my mother, the woman that gave birth to me twice in my life. How could that be?

Within nine months of my actual birth I was afflicted with the polio virus which immediately took its toll on my developing muscles on the right side of my body. Not knowing what was happening to me and that the little Italian mountain village that we resided had no medical facilities, she brought me from village to village seeking anyone with knowledge of what was happening to me. After several failed attempts she found a doctor that was well aware of what I was experiencing.

His advise to my mother was that I be given a infusion of blood everyday for a weeks time. Though our village had no medical facility or even a doctor, my mother believed that she needed to act immediately for she was told the my muscles would deteriorate rapidly. Since my uncle was a medic in the army, she convinced him to do as she was told. Each day for a week my uncle took blood out of my mother and injected into me. My mother risked her life in order to give me a chance at normality. So when I say my Mama gave me life twice, she did. Now 61 years later, I have lived a full life with only slight physical limitations.

My Mama's love has no limits in sacrifices, for she always subjected herself to do what she had to. From coming to America by herself to re establish her citizenship, working for 43 cents an hour to save enough money to send for us. Her 87 years of life has always been about her family, that they had what she was denied because of life's circumstances.

I can go on and on to show that my mama's love is within in me and will remain for all time.

Happy Mothers Day, Mama