This inspiring memoir is the story of Isabel Ruiz, who was born in Colombia to a large family and was given away as a child for reasons she did not know. After running away, she was kidnapped by two women who promised to take care of her, with beautiful clothes and plentiful food. Instead, she endured the horrific abuse of daily beatings and hard labor. She was sent to live with another family, where she was raped many times. After years of suffering abuse and working at difficult jobs, and through a remarkable series of events, she was offered the opportunity to receive an education to become a nurse. After that, her life changed. This is the riveting account of a woman who triumphed over abandonment and abuse to become a successful person who helped many people. Throughout her life, Isabel was always aware of God's presence, and her experience demonstrates that all things are possible with God.
About the Author: I was born in Colombia. In my early childhood, my parents gave me away to a neighbor, who took me to live with her and her daughter in Bogotá City. These two ladies fought all the time and mistreated me, and I ran way at the age of five. I wanted to return to my parents and knew that I had to take a train. Two older women on the train offered to pay my train fare if I would come live with them. They promised to love me and feed me lots of milk and cheese, but their promises turned out to be untrue. The ladies lived on a farm, and I worked day and night. I was often scared and alone because they forbade me to speak with other people. They treated me like a farm animal. They never sent me to school. I could not read or write, but I had a dream. I wanted to have the power and the polish that only education gives a person. When I was about 14 years old, I was sent to live with a brother of one of the ladies. He sent me to live with another family, where I was often raped by the father. I ran away again and was abused again and again, and finally, thanks to God, ended up with the Franciscan Sisters, who ran a large hospital in Bogotá. The sisters educated me and taught me to be a nurse. Education changed my life forever! In 1961, I came to the United States. I had a job waiting for me in a New York hospital and later became a U.S. citizen. I enjoyed nursing, raised a fine son as a single mother, and continued my education at various schools. In 1997, I retired from nursing and moved to Colorado. I quickly fell in love with the weather, the mountains, and the friendly people. I have realized my dream. I am educated, I have a fine son, I travel and meet new people, and I continue to learn all the time. Only through the goodness of God have I been able to reach this point in my life. I am telling my story to help young people realize that no matter what your situation is, there is always hope with God.