Angelina Santiago:
CLASS OF 1980
Victoria High SchoolClass of 1980
Victoria, TX
Texas A&I UniversityClass of 1989
Kingsville, TX
Angelina's Story
I have not been seen much since I left Victoria in 1981. I worked my way through college as a legal secretary, and as an accountant for a local hospital for budgeting, capital budgeting and JCAHO compliance projects. I also helped graduate students obtain their PhD's by coaching and editing their theses. When I finally graduated in 1989 with 2 Bachelor's degrees, my husband and I were raising two nephews. I worked in Payroll at Texas A&I and built their personnel databases when the university got "assimilated" to the mother ship Texas A&M.
We spent 7 years in Kansas City where Juan, Jesus, Justo and Angel were born. I worked for major national companies including 2 "giant" law firms. I also spent time working at Hospital Hill (administration) and the school district (auditor-capital budgets.) The last assignment was an extended one with the Treasury Department with the City of Kansas City. My husband worked as a small business bookeeper and tax consultant and eventually worked for the IRS.
Then our world came "crashing down." We knew this was coming--in a sense. Juan became the "tantrum king" of Children's Mercy Hospital, so he could not go to any daycare (the doctors told us to avoid it.) Then, Jesus, who slipped away into another world got diagnosed with Autism. Then the multiple "medical" appointments and testing began. The "news" kept rolling in -- all bad.
We moved back to Texas, mainly because both of our fathers were ill. My Dad passed away shortly after our return. My father-in-law passed away in 2006. Then Juan Jr. got diagnosed with Autism. We had to commute to Driscoll Children's Hospital 3 times a week for therapy, not to mention numerous calls from the schools and medical clinics. Then, after Justo "impressed" Day Surgery we went to have him and Angel Evaluated. They were diagnosed with PDD, then, later, a research organization evaluated the children and they were in the Autism Spectrum, Juan, Jesus, Justo, Angel and Margarita. So for years, I practically lived at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
Now we average about 70 regular medical appointments for the children's therapy, and they are doing well. I also manage an ARMY of doctors, therapists, specialists, teachers, para-professionals, social workers, lawyers (of COURSE), and home care providers. During the entire discourse, my OTHER WORK is in a...Expand for more
dvocacy for patient care and for referrals to services and service providers throughout the country (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Disabilities, Cognitive disorders, mental illness, brain injury, etc.) The Trauma I and II advocacy is still mostly in Texas. (That kind of advocacy comes off of other networks on my cell, that I keep 24-7.) I've also been active in policy-making since 2003. But I keep those ties, contacts and activities closed to the public. (Mainly to solve problems involving patient care where administrative procedures cannot cover, and public policy is needed to "cure" gaps. I also "bowed out" to the over-politicized health care reform bill. I prefer to solve problems when people are willing to work together. I will return when people "shed their axes" and put them away.) Public policy work is done outside of "election" politics. At least, this work will help maintain my "employability" when I can return to work -- I just don't know where or when, but I can't be "out of touch" or unfamiliar with use of current technologies and it keeps an active "references" list.
We both work at home, that is because we only have less than 2 hours a day to get things done, before the appointment schedules roll in. My husband Juan, attends to our older boys in high school. Juan and Jesus are on the varsity teams in tennis and in golf (Juan is the #1 player in tennis.) They also compete in area USTA events. During the Spring baseball is added for everyone (with the exception of the 2 youngest.) Victoria, our oldest started College and works as a volunteer with the school district to assist her little brother Justo and she was "drafted" to help Angelina. I enjoy my advocacy work, I love my children.
As far as our former careers, I tell my friends, "Someday I hope to retire from family life and go back to work!" That will be the day for me! Right now, all of my efforts are concentrated with Margarita, who appears to also have Cerebral Palsy but the official designation isn't in yet. We are working with our children full time so that when they are adults, they will be working and living in the community independently and being happy with the work or profession they choose.
My children are Victoria (18), Juan Jr. (15), Jesus(14), Justo (12), Angel (10), Angelina (9), Margarita (7), Felipa (6)-deceased, Solomon (4).
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