“I applaud you for forgetting so many things, because life gave you more thorns than roses.” -Joan Sebastian

What is it that keeps you from being defeated? When you encounter so many defeats, and start to wonder when things will start to change, what is it that keeps you from staying down? For Hermila it is her three children. The hope of a better life for them is what has kept her motivated to keep moving forward, although she has faced so many hardships.

Hermila, a 38 year old woman from Veracruz, Mexico started working from a young age. When she was 13 she got her first job taking care of kids, and by the age of 16 she moved out of her house and worked to support herself without the help of her family. When she was 20, she had been working for a woman who she grew to love and trust greatly. She spent most of her time with her, and only occasionally go visit her family. During a rare Christmas visit though, she ended up meeting the man who would become the father of her children. She fell in love, and decided to move to the United States with him. Her boss tried to convince her to say in Mexico, go back to school with her support, but Hermila felt going to the United States was the right thing for her at the time. She felt that at least she could have different types of work opportunities other than cleaning houses or taking care of children. Coming from a large family of 8 brothers and sisters, Hermila’s parents only sent her and her siblings to school up until the age of twelve. Her father believed that education beyond that was not necessary in order to clean houses, which is all he could see his children doing. This is how she ended up in Chicago. Since then, Hermila has never gone back to Mexico, and has had three children with the man who later became her husband. Her eldest daughter is fifteen, her son is thirteen, and her youngest daughter is twelve.

Although life has been very difficult for her in Chicago, Hermila believes moving somewhere else would be more difficult. Like many other immigrants, Hermila has been very hardworking, and has been able to work lot to support her family. She spent 8 years here working in a metal factory, and has been working in El Milagro Tortilla factory for the past two years. Hermila believes she has worked hard and has come a long way because nothing is impossible in this country.

The blow that tested Hermila’s faith the most was when her husband left her five years ago. Hermila recounts that tragedies have always happened to her during December. It was a few days before Christmas, when the father of her children told her that he would be moving back to Mexico. Hermila was in disbelief that he could leave during such a special time in the year. Regardless of the status of their relationship, she could not believe that he would hurt their kids like that. So, Hermila was able to convince him to stay longer, and he left two days after Christmas. It was very hard for Hermila to get through this time. She did not have the support of her husband, or her brother who is also living in Chicago. Her kids were still young and the time, and Hermila works the night shift at El Milagro, so finding care for her kids was tremendously difficult. Putting her trust in strangers like she never has before, also complicated things for her. She would have to wake them up in the middle of the night to get them to a babysitter so she could go to work. Many nights her kids begged her not to make them go out into the cold, with the promise of behaving. This was a really difficult time for Hermila, for she felt so alone, with so many responsibilities, and felt like she had been in a relationship for years with a man who did not really love her.

Hermila’s husband leaving had a tremendous impact on her kids as well. Her eldest daughter, Gloria*, soon after became depressed because her father had left. She always had a positive image of her dad, but that was not true at all. If he had really cared about her kids, he would not have abandoned them the way that he did. Gloria began to act out, be mean to her family, and get sad all the time. Because of this Hermila began to take her daughter to therapy.

Another troubling time in Hermila’s life was some time after her husband leaving. Hermila began to date someone who she thought was a good man, but unfortunately she was terribly mistaken. Marco* tried to have an inappropriate relationship with her daughter, Gloria. He would say things to her, thinking she would not tell her mom. He once kissed her by force when her mom went to the bathroom for a couple of minutes. He even tried to get her a cell phone so they could communicate. However, Gloria finally told her mother what happened when she had proof of what he had been doing. Marco sent Gloria a message on her phone in the middle of the night, so they were able to use this as proof to eventually file charges against him. Because of this, Marco began to harass Hermila and her family everywhere they went. He would threaten her, call her incessantly. This man even got a job where Hermila worked to be able to intimidate her further. Hermila feared for their safety, and the police investigation was taking months because of the lack of a Spanish speaking detective. So, Hermila finally went to her supervisor at work to try to get him to do something. However, her supervisor said that outside problems should not be brought into the workplace, and was unwilling to help her. So, Hermila ended up going to someone from Human Resources who told her she could file a restraining order against Marco. Thanks to a friend telling her about Taller de Jose, Hermila was able to file a restraining order, and after that, he was finally detained. Yet, even in jail, Hermila’s ex-boyfriend was able to cause so much damage to her and her family. Marco still called and harassed her from inside jail, and because of the ongoing cases, she could not just change her phone number so easily. Hermila tried to get another restraining order for while he was in jail, but they told her it was not possible because he was detained. During his first court date however, Hermila went so that she could tell the judge the many ways he continually harrassed her and her family. Thankfully, the judge and district attorney listened to what she said, and doubled his fees, and got her an order of protection against him.

Prior to this case, a jealous coworker accused Hermila of neglect and child abuse with DCFS. Hermila is a wonderful mother, who has done everything in her power to give her kids a better life than she had. No matter how Hermila is feeling, she manages to stay strong for her children. Therefore, the accusations of her being away from home for days at a time, drinking and smoking at home, were grossly untrue. However, DCFS had to do their jobs, and opened up an investigation on Hermila and her family. This terrified and worried Hermila greatly. They would call and show up without warning, causing even more stress to her already hectic life. Hermila barely slept or ate, because of all the things she had to do, and all the worries she had. She had to take her daughter to intensive therapy, and still takes her every week. That on top of taking her kids to doctor appointments, church school, daycare, the library, getting them to school and feeding them, was much more than one person could handle. Although Hermila was also depressed, she had to stop going to therapy, because there simply weren’t enough hours in the day. She needed to at least try to eat or sleep, although some days she has gone without either. Hermila continuously put the needs of her children over her own well being. After what lasted far too long for Hermila, the investigation finally concluded, and DCFS finally closed the case against her. Although so many difficult things have happened to her, Hermila has remained strong.

Hermila spoke of having hope that things will get better for her in the future. Her children are the reason why she persists, why she keeps fighting, and why she remains hopeful. There are some days where Hermila feels like she does not have the strength to continue, but because of her kids she does. Further, although she does not have the support of her family, she has the support of friends that she can rely on and she has come to love dearly. The people at Taller de Jose have helped her greatly in some of her hardest moments in life. Not only that, but friends she has made along the way have helped with her kids, and have been a shoulder to lean on when she needs one. Although a difficult one at times, Hermila has her life her life and her children here in the United States. She currently has no desire to return to Mexico. She dreams of her kids finishing school, and having better lives than what she has been through. Although she has family in Mexico, she has a few trusted allies with her in Chicago. She is thankful for these people, and cannot imagine where she would be without them. Hermila is truly an inspirational woman. She is an amazing example of the strength of immigrants, and the hope that they still have in the face of a life full of struggle. She retains the hope that things will get better, because they have to. According to Hermila, “There’s nothing bad through which good doesn’t come.” So, she will keep fighting.

*Some names have been changed for privacy

-Written by Elizabeth Salgado