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Living and Leaving a
Legacy of the
American Dream
Graduating with a
registered nurse
diploma in 1973 and
attaining a BSN in
1979, from Inter-American
University of Puerto
Rico, I traveled to
Dallas with my four
children and $20.00
in my pocket. But
more importantly I
had the
determination and
heart to overcome
the many obstacles
that many today
share and that is
fear, self-doubt,
and anxiety about
change. Facing a
language barrier and
seeking the
opportunity to put
my education to work
I began work at the
Veterans
Administration
Hospital. I quickly
learned the language
and adopted a new
culture and way of
life.
After an eye-opening
moment, I was again
affected by the
medical condition of
another family
member, this time it
was my mother. She
was diagnosed with
brain cancer and it
was almost immediate
and right before my
eyes that she
declined quite
rapidly in her
health. I was forced
to work as a sole
provider for my
family and I now
needed to accept
help from another
aspect of the
medical field; home
health and hospice.
My mother wasn’t
well and the
daughter that
thrived on helping
many others regain
their health and go
home from the
hospital; found
herself not being
able to help her own
mother. A nurse
would come to the
home that now
comfortably fit a
hospital bed in what
was once was a
family room. Medical
equipment and
supplies now stacked
in corners was
another daily
reminder of the
condition my mother
was in.
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Dr.
Carmen
Santiago
is the
president
and
founder
of
Cuidado
Casero
Home
Health &
Hospice,
and a
2007
Anna
Maria
Arias
Memorial
Business
Fund
Award
recipient. |
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My mother
only spoke Spanish and therefore
could not communicate
effectively with her nurse to
describe her pain or her
discomforts. It was after
working another 16 hour shift at
the hospital that I came home to
my mom’s bedside and as I
stroked what remained of her
hair something within my heart
was stirred. I didn’t want
another family to have to go
through this alone, but most
importantly I didn’t want
another patient to face the end-of-life
without quality care and dignity.
My mother went on to be with the
Lord in 1989.
It was in
1995, that Cuidado Casero Home
Health & Hospice was born. I
remained working at the hospital
while starting the business to
generate income to bring my
American dream to life. As I
started there were only two
employees, of which one included
me. I can say that a lot of
tears, heartache, pain, and
sacrifice went into making this
dream come to life, but in times
of doubt I remembered what my
mother faced. Today, Cuidado
Casero Home Health & Hospice
provides services in Spanish and
English and has agencies in
Texas, New Mexico, Virginia, New
Jersey, and Puerto-Rico. We have
over 1000 employees, which
include my beloved husband and
my three daughters.
There are
three simple steps that I would
like to share with Latina’s
everywhere. I recall it to be my
recipe for success. First,
develop a passion. Many before
me have said it and I reiterate
it now because it’s what you’ll
be doing majority of your day.
Secondly, acquire an education
to help attain the goals that
you are passionate about. And
most importantly, seek sound
financial advice from the
beginning. (It could affect your
dream coming to fruition.)
I have received many awards for
what I have accomplished in the
home health & hospice field. I
am living proof that the
American dream can be achieved.
I am part of the history that
has unraveled and the legacy
that is developing in women
entrepreneurship and a proud
recipient of the Anna Maria
Arias Memorial Business Fund in
2007.
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