A year after my parents got married, feeling the uncertainty of ever being able to have their own child to love, My dad bought a porcelain doll in yellow onesie with a frilly hat for my mom. They named her Elizama. Both of my parents really wanted to have a child but after testing multiple times the only answer they ever got was “No, you can't have children.” 

So instead they turned all of their attention onto Elizama. Caring for her like she is their own kid and always making sure that she was being stored properly. In 2001 my mom sent Elizama to Massachusetts to my dad since he had left Brazil to start building a better life for his family here in the states. My mom had no way of knowing if she would ever be able to step onto american soil, but knowing that Elizama was over here with my dad, she kept trying. By the time she had officially made it here, not that long after I was born. 

If my dad had simply ignored the doll 25 years ago I don't think I would be who I am today and definitely not doing something I truly am proud of doing everyday.