Life is unpredictable. We never know what the future holds for each of us and often think of everything as simple. We have everything today, and the circumstances and obstacles that suddenly appear on our way can overwhelm us the next moment.
The Rodriguez family of Orlando, Florida was happy. But then Lisa Smith, a mother of six, died in 2013 from cervical cancer. Then her husband, Alexander Rodriguez, had to take the family with him. He promised his wife that he would always be with her children, but he could not do this, because three years later he died of lymphoma.
Suddenly, six brothers and sisters were left alone. At that time, the eldest of them, Samantha, played the role of mother and father.
Samantha’s story is fascinating. He recently spoke to The View magazine about her life after losing her parents.
“My reality is that I am 17 years old, but these are my brothers and sisters, and when I saw them, I realized that they were children,” she said. “I became their adult because they are vulnerable and they need an adult.”
If she doesn’t, her brothers and sisters can easily end up in an orphanage. At the same time, this means that the promise made by the father to the mother will be broken, and he will never allow this.
“I knew what I had to do,” Samantha told CNN. “This is what I want to do for the kids.”
Samantha, a 21-year-old college student, works as a waitress to support her family. Her younger sisters, Destiny, 7, Bella, 9, Michael, 12, Brenda, 15, and Milagros, 16, attend school regularly and provide them with food and clothing thanks to their brave sister.
Speaking about her decision to go back to school, Samantha told The View she couldn’t explain to her siblings the importance of being a good student and graduate.
“When I [graduated], the kids were very proud of me and came to my graduation, and it was amazing. I didn’t know people who graduated from high school or went to college, and it was hard for me because I didn’t have this direction, ”Samantha said.
When Whoopi Goldberg asked a young woman what she values most in her life and what her parents taught her, she said, “They taught us not to take anything for granted. I try to teach this to children. It has no material value. It really was taken away. The most important thing is family, love and support.”
The siblings know that Samantha has to sacrifice her life to take care of them, and they are very grateful to her. On the other hand, she says that being with her siblings makes her truly happy.
I hope this wonderful family will make their dreams come true because they should only enjoy the best in life.