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Their Stories
Ana Maria Torres Cruz
Hello, my name is Ana Maria Torres Cruz. My family consist of 4 brothers and sisters, the oldest is Elvira, then me, next is Jose Roberto and finally Francisco Javier. My mother died when our little brother was born in 1984. I remember the day when I saw her in her coffin and my sister was crying the entire time. My father and other family members were very sad and were saying things like “My God, poor children, what will happen to them?
I was 9, my sister was 11, my little brother was 4 and the baby would be 1 year old in a few months. It was especially hard for me to adapt to this new and gigantic house where there are many children everywhere. One thing that I liked a lot was now I had my own bed and closet. It was empty because I did not have any clothes, but the same day it was filled because the girls in my dorm shared their clothes and their things with me. On the other hand, I was also relaxed because my little brothers were being taken care of, being fed and getting lots of love.
As the years passed and thanks to all of the activities I have done, I turned into a responsible person and a better human being. I was worried when I became a “house parent” that I would not know what to do if anyone in my dorm got sick. I also knew that my father had diabetes and for these reasons I wanted to be a nurse.
Today I am a nurse and my dream came true when I graduated in July of 1997. Since then I have worked in the clinic in NPH Nicaragua and now I work in Mexico City in a private hospital. It gives me great satisfaction to be a part of a surgery or birth of a child, but it is also beautiful to help someone when their health does not allow them to complete their everyday activities.
Who would have imagined it? A nurse in the family! Also, my sister has her degree in Administration, my brother has his degree in computers and my youngest brother will finish technical school soon.
In NPH I made many friends; for this I have wonderful memories and also know that another one of my dreams will soon become reality.
I am going to marry a man that was also a former pequeño. He is about to finish his degree in Computer Science at the university. He is a very good person and I am sure we are going to be very happy.
At NPH we learned the basic fundamentals that will help us stay together forever and form a beautiful family.
I thank God for my life and for turning my suffering at the loss of my mother into a wish to do better for myself. Thank you Fr. Wasson, Padre Felipe, benefactors, godparents, teachers, house parents, employees, brothers, sisters, friends……. Without your constant support. I would not be telling this wonderful story today.
THANK YOU!
Ana Maria Torres Cruz