Transformation Through Chaos
My mother was raised in a two-parent household and she had six siblings . Her father was a truck driver and her mother was a housekeeper . Both of her parents promoted education with their children . The majority of my mother ’ s siblings attended college as well .
We lived in several states during our upbringing . My childhood was good at times and chaotic other times . My parents did a wonderful job of making sure we had adequate food , shelter , education , and the vital necessities of life . We even travelled as a family to different locations every summer .
My father usually worked long hours and was not present in the home often . He left home every day when it was dark outside and returned when it was still dark outside . Also , my father worked seven days a week .
I must admit that I inherited my father ’ s tireless work ethics . I also inherited my desire to be a humanitarian from my father . He was a dedicated doctor and often put the needs of his clients first . My father never turned a client away because they did not have health insurance or the finances to afford his services .
My father left a legacy behind , although his life ended at such a young age . A legacy is not always defined by wealth in terms of money . Let ’ s talk about wealth in terms of a committed life of helping others . I will never forget the day that I met a former client of my father in my line of work as a mental health practitioner .
She was a grandmother who was awarded custody of her great-grandchildren . Upon meeting me , she stated that she was familiar with my last name . This grandmother asked me if I knew a certain Dr . Ira Wenze who practiced medicine in Ft . Lauderdale , Florida . I gladly told her that was my father .
She informed me that her children were clients of my father when he was alive . This grandmother revealed to me that my father was the only doctor who discovered and treated the medical needs of her children . She also communicated to me that often times she had no money nor did she have medical insurance to cover medical expenses .
This grandmother informed me that my father told her that was not a reason for him not to provide her children with the medical care that they needed . She specified that my father was a savior to her and her family .
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