EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

MY NAME IS ESTELA PRESTON.

I was born in Cambara, ParanaBrazil. When I was 16 months old my parents took me to a church event.

While there, I and the other children were exposed to something that made us sick. I had an extremely high temperature and was shaking uncontrollably.

At the time the townspeople went to the local pharmacy for evaluations because the main hospital was 249 miles away. While there, the pharmacist diagnosed me with severe flu and sent us home with medication.

The medication the pharmacists sent us home with did not help, and the next morning I was unable to walk. My mom and I traveled to San Paulo, Brazil where I was diagnosed with Polio. I was placed in isolation and put on a breathing machine called the Iron Lung. I was only able to see my mom through a glass window. The hospital staff asked my mom not to visit because I would become very emotional and distraught. I stayed at the hospital for about 40 days and was finally sent home.

Around a year later, I started walking again but my right leg was not developing as fast as my left leg. My right leg was shorter and curving to the side. Before I could have corrective surgery the doctors wanted to see if I was going to develop any other problems from the disease. It was when I was around six years old that I became eligible for surgery.

I remember when my mother dropped me off at the hospital. She told me she was going to wait outside. The nurse changed my clothes into white polka-dotted pajamas. My mother never came back and the next day I was prepped for surgery. In the pre-op, there was a little girl crying. I remember telling her; “Don’t worry it’s not going to hurt.” At the time, I think I was more scared than she was. But with five older brothers, I was taught to be tough.

I do not remember waking up from the surgery, but remember my parents still not being there for me. I remember being in pain and feeling very lonely. When it was time for visitation, the nurses put me in a wheelchair and took me to the visitor’s room. All the other children had visitors except me and I just felt more abandoned than ever. When the hospital staff learned of the situation, the doctors would come in and visit with me. My favorite was Dr. Fish who was from the United States. Every time he would visit me, he would ask, “Where’s my little girl,” and ask me to sing for him. Since that encounter, all I dreamt about was going to the United States.

I was a child and didn’t understand the situation, but the thought of not being with my family was unbearable. I always tried to keep a positive and uplifting attitude and didn’t want anyone to know how I was really feeling inside. There were so many other children that were worse than I was.

At night when they would turn the lights off, I would quietly cry myself to sleep. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I was able to forgive my mom for not being with me during this time. It felt so good to release the resentment and move on. I never resented my father because I knew he had to work and provide for the family. My lifestyle is still affected by the disease, but I am now a proud U.S. citizen. I first moved to Sarasota, FL, and worked at an assisted living facility for seven years. I have resided in Cleveland TN since 1996 and currently work in the Medicare field.

A g g , w w y p at the Miller Brothers department store in Chattanooga. In 1958, a friend asked if I had seen the “hot” new elevator operator. I took many trips on that elevator, not realizing this would change both of our lives. Marge and I had many ups and downs until she left for x-ray technician training at Erlanger Hospital.

Having no car, I had to ride a bus downtown and walk up a long hill to see her. We would walk back down the mountain for a movie, then back up the hill with her in high heels. I soon realized this would not work, so I talked my Dad into helping me purchase my first car. We dated until our marriage in 1961.

We spent our wedding night at the Teddy Bear Hotel in Cleveland, TN, but the owner refused to give us a room until our marriage license was signed. I had to leave Marge there, drive 30 miles to the minister's house, and speed back to Cleveland, arriving at 2 am. What a thrilling start to our marriage!

Three years later, our first son Jeff was born, followed by Greg 17 months later. Jeff is now a contracting officer at NASA and Greg is a West Point graduate. They have married amazing women and together, they have given us four wonderful grandchildren.

Marge stayed at home with our sons until they reached high school, and at the age of 40, she went back to Nursing School, earned her LPN, and worked as a nurse for a gynecologist until her retirement in 1993. I retired from Combustion Engineering/Alstom after 43 years. Our lives together have been more complete than we could have ever imagined. We have shared many adventures, including 21 cruises and 20 bus tours, and these years have been an indescribable blessing.

We wouldn't change a thing and are still happily in love after 61 years together.

Loveisnotjustafeelingof happiness,it'sachoiceto committoanotherperson's well-beingnomatter whatthefutureholds,for itisanendlessactofthe heart.