Goodfellows: Mom sustained by faith

At one time, Maira’s life was a horror.

Family members abused her. Drug use was commonplace among her relatives. Her grandparents were brutally murdered.

Although she was able to escape what she described as “that pit of hell,’’ she is still struggling: Two of her children have disabilities, she has been unable to work for almost three years and last week had to go to the hospital with an illness that required a blood transfusion.

Yet her faith has sustained her.

“Let me share this story with you,’’ she said in an interview. “I’ve been robbed. I came to Texas. I came with a clear mind. I said, ‘OK, God, I trust in you. You’re going to teach me how to live on my own.’ He did.”

The 44-year-old single mother of four has an apartment, a car, a church and friends. But her financial situation is tenuous. She receives housing assistance and a small amount of money that helps pay for utilities, but must manage her funds carefully to keep the lights on and the water running.

Money for things such as Christmas presents is nonexistent.

Maira, who lives in Arlington, applied for help from the Star-Telegram’s Goodfellow Fund so she could buy some clothes and shoes for her children using gift cards provided by the organization.

The fund’s organizers set a goal this year of raising $1 million and helping 20,000 children. As of Wednesday, $819,886 had been raised, Goodfellows executive director Richard Greene said.

Greene said he expects to fall short of the $1 million goal, noting that there have been fewer donors this year. Still, the charity was able to help about 19,500 children.

Greene said he was hopeful the amount will grow because traditionally 10 percent of donations come after Christmas and during the first quarter of the following year.

“I wish each donor could personally experience and hear first-hand the appreciation and sincerity of these families,” Greene said.

Maira almost missed out on the gift cards because on the day of her eligibility appointment, she didn’t have enough gas money to get there. A friend provided $5 for gas so she could make the appointment. She received three gift cards for her children, who are 9, 13 and 14; the 3-year-old was too young to qualify, she said.

“God is good, sweetie,” she said. “I know there’s some people who don’t need it, but there are people who do need it. The people who do get the help. I couldn’t even express the blessing it is.”

Even though Maira has had a difficult life, she recounted many times where her needs have been filled unexpectedly. Twice now, she has been provided a car without purchasing it herself. Maira has worked as a caregiver for the elderly and developed close relationships with two residents who gave her cars when family members no longer had use for them.

Yet there have also been times when she felt overwhelmed and alone. Her recent hospital stay was difficult. She cried on Friday as she waited for a prescription, saying that she believes she got sick because of chronic worry that suppressed her immune system and caused her to lose her appetite.

When she returned home from the hospital, the water had been cut off.

Still, she said, the difficult times teach her a lot.

“Sometimes miracles happen, but not always,” she said. “I believe in my situation God doesn’t do that all time. He doesn’t want you to think he’s going to bring it to you on your lap. He wants you to do your part too.”

Even though her future may not seem very bright right now, Maira hopes that better times are ahead.

“Here I thought I was never going to amount to nothing … but God showed me otherwise and he’s still showing me there’s something out there for me,” she said.

This story was originally published December 24, 2014 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Goodfellows: Mom sustained by faith."