Don’t Worry it’s on me

“I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich”- Dan Wilcox
Ever since the day I was born my parents have not only taken care of me but also the rest of my relatives: my grandparents, uncles, and especially my Tia Leah, my dad’s younger sister. Sometimes I wonder why, but it’s simply the way my father was brought up and it’s the way he wants us also to be. . She grew up in a pretty hectic home. My grandmother had been divorced three times. My dad lost his father at a young age; and money was always lacking. Leah jumped around from school to school, and never really had anyone to call a parental figure in her life.
As difficult as life was for her, my Tia always loved to take care of those in need. Even in times when she was the one that needed someone. She dreamed of it and made it her goal to reach it. If there ever was a sick person, she would be there trying to prescribe them medication (even when she didn’t even know what the cause of their pain was) or if a bird was hurt she would rescue it and make him her pet. At a young age she began her strive to become a doctor. She graduated top in her class and was able to get a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Her family’s economic means weren’t enough for her to go there, so she worked hard to stay. Later she returned to Panama, where my father was beginning a family, and continued with her studies.
This is when things became even more difficult for her. Her father didn’t pay for any of her expenses, so she depended fully on my father. I remember always being with my Tia and going out as a family. She would always feel bad that my father had to pay for everything, so every once in a while she would try to pay for lunches or dinners. Still she always got the same response from my dad, “Don’t worry it’s on me.” As much as it embarrassed her to have my family always pay for her, she promised my mom and dad someday that she would pay us back. As a way of returning the favor she would babysit me or play with my brothers. I can remember the many movies we watched together: Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White. I remember when she thought I had meningitis. She stayed with me all night long, not once leaving my side, trying to make sure that I was not in pain. She kept my parents worry-free and me as comfortable as possible.
My Tia continued her studies and graduated as a doctor from the University of Panama. She later returned to the states where she met her husband and they decided to come back to Panama to have my cousin Sophia. A few weeks after Sophie was born she decided to go to back and begin her Residency at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. During her residency she became Chief Resident. She was also represented Tennessee in the American Association of Doctors. Slowly she began making money. I admired her strength and how not once she has shown any sort of weakness. Even though she’s my aunt I consider her to be the rock of my family. I can always count on her. We can sit for hours and talk about almost anything because I know that whatever situation I’m dealing with, she’s been through worse. And her sense of humor isn’t like anybody else’s. We laugh at things that no one can really understand. Tia Leah is my strongest role model: she has overcome every obstacle that has been thrown her.
Money no longer is an issue for her, but that wasn’t what made her happy, saving lives was. She loved absolute everything about her job, the late nights, hard work-- everything. While my aunt was in the states getting ahead of the competition, my dad lost his job here in Panama. He had to move to the States and start all over. Now, the tables were turned. In a time when my dad helped others, now he was the one who needed someone there for him. Embarrassed my dad asked my aunt for help, not once did she question him. She just gave him what he needed. I remember going out to dinner in the states with her, only this time when the check arrived at the table, she grabbed it before my dad, and said, “Don’t worry it’s on me.”