“I often watch other fathers with their children. They solve many situations with the phrase ‘Ask your mother!’ However, we do not all have this luxury.” Samuel Volrie from Texas is only 28 years old and already a single father and widower. He tells his story at CafeMom and impresses countless people around the world with his strength. Because although his wife ᴅɪᴇᴅ shortly after the birth of their first child, Samuel manages to be strong for his daughter every day.
“MARIA MADE ME A BETTER PERSON.”
“Maria was the woman I needed so badly. Even though we only had five years together, she made me a completely different person, a better person. I needed someone like her to help me ignite my inner fire and show me that I can do better.” When the two met, Samuel was already the father of a daughter, but he only saw her on weekends. “I’m not proud of that, but at least I’ve always had a good relationship with my big one.” After a while with Maria in his life, many things would have changed for the better by themselves: “ I made my own money and finally managed to save enough so that I could buy my first car, later I bought a house, paid all of my bills. I got a promotion at work and even started eating healthier.
“SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.”
Maria had successfully completed her studies, had a good job, and had many dreams and plans. “She always cared about others without giving up on herself. She had so much balance in everything she did. She was the most balanced, loving person I have ever met. She was my best friend.” When Maria shows him the positive pregnancy test, Samuel has the feeling that he has finally got to where he always wanted to be. This time he wants to do better because with Maria by his side he is ready to become a father. But then life comes in between.
AGAIN AND AGAIN, MARIA SAYS: “SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME!”
The birth of her little daughter Alina was difficult, Maria was in labor for many hours. When their daughter is born, they are both happy and relieved. Although everything seems to be fine, little Alina is supposed to be in the intensive care unit for surveillance. So Maria and Samuel have to walk across the hospital if they want to see their little daughter. And that’s when they notice for the first time that something is wrong. Maria can only move with great difficulty, she is in severe ᴘᴀɪɴ and can barely make it to her baby. She even needs help going to the toilet, which is only a few feet away from her bed. Again and again, she says to her husband and to the staff in the hospital: “Something is wrong with me!”
DESPITE HER COMPLAINTS, MARIA IS RELEASED
Other women who gave birth at the same time as Maria have long been fit again, and she simply does not want to improve. A week and a half after the birth, Maria was only a shadow of herself. Nevertheless, the nurse came and sent her home, the insurance would not pay for the mother’s long stay. “That was the beginning of the end,” recalls Samuel. Little Alina is supposed to stay a few more days for observation, so Maria decides to visit her daughter there the next day. Since Samuel does not get parental leave, he has to go back to work. He brings his wife to her baby, she spends there all day. What nobody suspects: Maria is ʙʟᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ to ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ inside, in the middle of a hospital. When Samuel picks up his wife in the evening, her condition is poor. At night she is sometimes no longer accessible.
“PLEASE DON’T CRY, DARLING.”
In a ᴘᴀɴɪᴄ, Samuel takes his wife to another hospital. There an attempt is made to help the weak Maria, but unfortunately without success. His wife’s last words are “Please don’t cry darling,” then her eyes close forever. On September 5, 2019, Samuel loses his wife and little Alina their mom. Today, two years later, Samuel is a single father. Little Alina lives with him and is his everything. Maria, who would have turned 30 this year, unfortunately, cannot see how her daughter develops. The two-year-old is a happy little girl and Daddy’s pride and joy. “I am incredibly grateful for the support of my parents and my big sister, who do a lot for me and Alina. Without her, I would have given up long ago. But I will give everything to keep Mary’s memory alive and to make her proud. “Although Samuel struggles with depressive episodes again and again, as a single father he wants to stay strong for his daughter and keep her mother’s spirit alive. “I do not have many friends. I sure don’t have a lot of money. But I have a purpose in life. The name of Maria Cᴏʀᴏɴᴀ will mean forever because as long as I live I will remember her. Alina will know through me and the people around her how great her mother was.”
