alba

i had the wonderful opportunity growing up to have a foreign exchange student live with us my sophomore year in high school. she was from paraguay. after the disappointment of not having some male student from europe, i accepted the fact that i was to have a girl from south america come to live with us. she had her english translation book that she carried everywhere. she actually learned english very quickly, with three of us in twin beds in a room, we got to know each other very quickly. she showed me how with strength and determination you could accomplish anything! we spent the year learning about each other and each others cultures. in 1989 i visited her with my sister in paraguay. it was hot and the luxuries we count on every day were not readily available there. it was very different than what we were used to. very third world living, down to the donkey delivering the milk each day. and come to find out, the medical world was very third world. she developed breast cancer and had no resources for treatment. my parents had the drugs she needed for chemo mailed to her. as a survivor of the same desease, years later, this haunts me. i had the medical treatment i needed and survived. she didn't and she died. she died from the very disease that i had. i don't know why, i just know it is. i am so blessed to be alive today, to enjoy my kids, caroline and the two precious boys to come. but i know that if she were her today, she would be so proud of her daughters and son. what amazing kids, to have lost both their parents in such a short time, to become amazing adults. i don't know why we are availed different treatments in different parts of the world. no, it isn't fair. yes it is wrong. my heart breaks for every daughter and son that loses their mom to this terrible disease. but i know she is looking down on her kids smiling! knowing that she left them strong, as strong as she was, to carry on. i miss you alba, you were my sister and i wish we could share stories about our grandkids together. you taught me tolerance and love. and to laugh at the little things. i hope you are looking down smiling, maybe even laughing that wonderful laugh! i love you sweet lady!