“When I needed help most, I had no one. I had to struggle and hustle my way here. Today, I’m the owner of the Sandoval Construction Company and I’m never going to be taken for granted again.”

Altagracia Sandoval is not your typical woman. Her first name is of Spanish origin meaning “Our Lady of High Grace”. With eyes blazing like fire and a body figure that chokes men upon seeing, she commands respect all over the country. She is feared by many and referred to by all as “La Doña”.

At the top of an incomplete high rise building in Mexico City, Altagracia stands tall with a high chin and her chest thrust out. Staring intently at a stack of houses on the opposite side of the road, she turns to her lawyer and asks,

“Braulio. What’s the status of the tenement eviction? We need to begin construction of the parking lot for the shopping mall immediately.”

Braulio responds, “Doña, the landlord Jaime Aguirre, has refused to accept our proposal.”

“Then find a way to get them out. Do whatever it takes. We must proceed with the construction plans. I’m not going to let a nobody landlord get in my way.

“As you wish, La Doña”.

Braulio makes a call to his office instructing his law clerks to falsify a tenement deed claiming that Altagracia Sandoval is the rightful owner of the tenement across the road.

Altagracia and Braulio head out of the shopping mall construction site. On their way out, a construction worker excited to see the famous La Doña in person exclaims,

“La Doña! Thank you! Thank you so much for the opportunity to work here. God bless you and everything you do.”

Altagracia smiles as she stops to respond to the man.

“Señor....?”

“Santiago Suarez”, he heartily answers.

“Señor Suarez, you’re fired!”

The man takes a step back in utter shock as tears begin rolling down his eyes. His co-worker tries to defend him, "But La Doña, he was only thanking ...."

"You're fired too!", Altagracia retorts.

"Nobody speaks to me without my permission." she says in a bid to warn the other workers who were present.

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On the other side of the country, in Tijuana, a young girl, in her 20s is singing and playing a guitar at the side of the road to raise money. At the end of her performance, a wave of applause spreads through the whole street but is soon cut short when a group of boys come screaming.

“Monica! Monica! Your father, Lazaro!”

Monica, the young musician immediately packs up her guitar in its suitcase and rushes out with the boys. She soon finds her way home where her father is on the floor screaming in pain.

"The door was locked and we couldn't get in. That's why we rushed to call you", said one of the boys as they tried to help her lift Lazaro up.

“Monica, my daughter”,  Lazaro winces.

“I was only trying to reach for some of the fruits on the shelf.”

Poor Lazaro Hernandez was paralyzed from his waist down. Unable to work and provide for his family, his daughter, Monica tried to use her gifts in music to reel in some money home. She had hopes that her father would walk again as he was not born paralyzed. An accident many years ago had put him in this situation.

“That’s it, Papa.” We’re going to Mexico City. I’ve done some research and I found a doctor there that can help you out.”

“No, my daughter. We can’t do that. Where are we going to get the money from?”

“Don’t worry about that, Papa. I’ll find a way. You know I’ll do anything for you.”

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--- Quench your curiosity:  Read Part 2 Here ---