Euphemia – soldiering on, despite what life threw at her

By Amitabh Sharma

It seemed that a curse had been cast on Euphemia from the day she was born, it wasn’t ending anytime in her lifetime. Thrust to her father as soon as she was born, abused by stepmother, hers was a life which one wouldn’t even curse one’s enemy with.

Euphemia, as she grew up as a young lady, was bruised – physically and mentally – never got a chance to go to school,  without any qualifications, Euphemia had to resort to housework to support herself. She also spent some time at a home for the infirmed. During this time she got an opportunity to relocate to the eastern Caribbean island of Bermuda, where the pay was better.

In Bermuda she began working a doctor’s office, but her spell of good luck was to run out sooner.

She was on a visitor visa, she got into a disagreement with her land lady, who in turn reported her to the authorities, since Euphemia was working without papers and had overstayed, and she was deported to Jamaica.

Back home, she found a job as a caregiver and later met a handsome, but a little older gentleman. They fell in love, and got married. Her husband had several grown children of his own, but Euphemia lost the only pregnancy that she ever had.

After all the ordeals, Euphemia thought life would be better; she had a happy married life, and she took one of her nieces, offered her a place to stay until the young lady found a job and got settled – but life was to throw another twist.

Euphemia found out that her husband was having an affair with her niece and got her pregnant. That was the end of her marriage. She moved out and got divorced.

Armed with a never say die spirit, she soldiered on, finding odd jobs working as a caregiver; she even found little piece of land and started building her home. She was asked by a doctor to be a caregiver for their grandfather. She took good care of him, making him feel comfortable, offering comfort and helping with the chores till her passed.

The doctor, impressed with Euphemia’s caring nature, asked her to come and work at his clinic as a caretaker. She didn’t have any formal qualifications, but was armed with empathy and care; for the staff and patients, she was a breath of fresh air.

Euphemia worked five days a week and continued doing odd jobs over the weekends. Little by little she saved money and completed her three-bedroom home.

In her 40’s, life had taken a turn for the better – one may not be able to fathom the path Euphemia walked. Battered, and bruised at every step glided over the many problems that life presented to her.

Euphemia is 80 years young, and still sharp and active. Every morning she will wear her crisp uniform, pack her bag, snacks, water, food and take a bus to work. She has no plans to retire … “What’s that?” she said. “I am living life, one day at a time, and I am living it to the fullest.”

The name Euphemia is inspired from Saint Euphemia, a martyr whose story reflects themes of faith, perseverance, and the power of conviction. Special thanks to Dr Garth Rattray for sharing the story.

 (Part I: Amid an avalanche of life’s challenges, Euphemia always found hope)

 (The column Postcard from Jamaica appears every Wednesday.)

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