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Many people say that being a parent is hard but being a physically disable parent is 10 times harder.
"My mummy is deaf, mute and partially blind." These are the words from Thelma Hodge's eldest daughter Rhonda Gonzales.
Can you imagine being unable to hear or speak? For some us who have the gift of gab that silence might just be a God -send but picture that on top of that you are unable to read and walking is a challenge. And while you take each day at a time, you are blessed with six rambunctious children and among that bunch is ap pair of twins.
That is what Thelma Hodge did everyday of her life until her children were able to take care of themselves.
At the tender age of eight, Hodge suffered a virulent fever that left her in a world of silence, unable to hear and speak.
As a mother herself Gonzales said, "Through her grandmother, mummy can speak a little but she has not been trained in sign language. She can read lips and communicates through a language of her own, one that we have learned and know all our life."
And even with these physical challenges her six children all know the message she conveys to them everyday. Something that is so simple yet powerful and does not take any words to say but comes through the heart loud and clear "I love you."
A lady they say is one in a million and has the grace of a queen but with the fiery spirit of a warrior ready for battle Hodge is definitely not afraid to live her life.
Joyful, funny, and with a good sense of humour, Hodge embraces each day like her last. According to her eldest daughter Rhonda, Hodge has never allowed her disabilities or the absence of her husband to let her shirk her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Her husband worked offshore most of the time leaving Hodge to handle the family all on her own.
Originally from San Pedro, Poole Hodge celebrated her 73rd birthday on January 19th at her home in San Fernando with family and friends. Married for 41 years until her husband passed away from Alzheimer's disease she has struggled as a wife and a mother to ensure a good future for her children and grandchildren.
Determined to excel with not much room for excuses Hodge's children remembered their mother always being there to ensure that they did their homework even though she could not read. They did their chores and Hodge ensured they all went to church every Sunday.
Her children Rhonda 51, twin sisters Marie Ann and Ann Marie 49, Robert 47, Jennifer 45 and Gregory 41 (deceased) had a normal household growing up.
Her daughter Ann Marie said, " Mummy's doors were always opened and there wasn't a day when we didn't have company over."
Hodge coming from a big family herself with four sisters and one brother, learned to shelter responsibility at a young age. Taking care of a relative's eight children when she was a young girl gave her a caring heart and lots of patience.
Her grandmother was a midwife and taught and encouraged Hodge to use her voice. Even when Hodge's husband fell ill the children say that their mother was of taking care of their father, the house and them and still found time to take care of others.
Rhonda said, "For all our lives we always had someone over-a cousin, a neighbour, friends and strangers who needed a plate of food or a place to sleep."
She added, " I can recall four cousins, one grandmother, three families and one stranger needed a place to stay for a night. The nights turned to weeks and the weeks to months and the months to years. My mom continuously showed her love and concern for them until they could get back on their feet and through her caring nature we learned how to love and care for others less fortunate than ourselves."
Hodge by no means kept herself at home. Her children remember when she needed supplies or something for them for school she would take a taxi and go to Port of Spain and the market where she is a favourite.
Her children say even though their mother cannot read or write she can count money very well.
Rhonda said, "Our mother is the matriarch, the backbone of our family. She is always positive and smiling."
She added, " Parenting is not an easy job. It is like a garden, you give it water everyday and nurture it and there will be an increase. You do not water it once a month or it will die."
For Mother's Day Hodge had advice for young mothers " Don't give your children to anyone else to raise, raise them yourself. Be encouraged there is no difficulty that you cannot overcome. Trust God, be positive, live right, do your duty and always give love."
Many people say that being a parent is hard but being a physically disable parent is 10 times harder.
"My mummy is deaf, mute and partially blind." These are the words from Thelma Hodge's eldest daughter Rhonda Gonzales.
Can you imagine being unable to hear or speak? For some us who have the gift of gab that silence might just be a God -send but picture that on top of that you are unable to read and walking is a challenge. And while you take each day at a time, you are blessed with six rambunctious children and among that bunch is ap pair of twins.
That is what Thelma Hodge did everyday of her life until her children were able to take care of themselves.
At the tender age of eight, Hodge suffered a virulent fever that left her in a world of silence, unable to hear and speak.
As a mother herself Gonzales said, "Through her grandmother, mummy can speak a little but she has not been trained in sign language. She can read lips and communicates through a language of her own, one that we have learned and know all our life."
And even with these physical challenges her six children all know the message she conveys to them everyday. Something that is so simple yet powerful and does not take any words to say but comes through the heart loud and clear "I love you."
A lady they say is one in a million and has the grace of a queen but with the fiery spirit of a warrior ready for battle Hodge is definitely not afraid to live her life.
Joyful, funny, and with a good sense of humour, Hodge embraces each day like her last. According to her eldest daughter Rhonda, Hodge has never allowed her disabilities or the absence of her husband to let her shirk her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Her husband worked offshore most of the time leaving Hodge to handle the family all on her own.
Originally from San Pedro, Poole Hodge celebrated her 73rd birthday on January 19th at her home in San Fernando with family and friends. Married for 41 years until her husband passed away from Alzheimer's disease she has struggled as a wife and a mother to ensure a good future for her children and grandchildren.
Determined to excel with not much room for excuses Hodge's children remembered their mother always being there to ensure that they did their homework even though she could not read. They did their chores and Hodge ensured they all went to church every Sunday.
Her children Rhonda 51, twin sisters Marie Ann and Ann Marie 49, Robert 47, Jennifer 45 and Gregory 41 (deceased) had a normal household growing up.
Her daughter Ann Marie said, " Mummy's doors were always opened and there wasn't a day when we didn't have company over."
Hodge coming from a big family herself with four sisters and one brother, learned to shelter responsibility at a young age. Taking care of a relative's eight children when she was a young girl gave her a caring heart and lots of patience.
Her grandmother was a midwife and taught and encouraged Hodge to use her voice. Even when Hodge's husband fell ill the children say that their mother was of taking care of their father, the house and them and still found time to take care of others.
Rhonda said, "For all our lives we always had someone over-a cousin, a neighbour, friends and strangers who needed a plate of food or a place to sleep."
She added, " I can recall four cousins, one grandmother, three families and one stranger needed a place to stay for a night. The nights turned to weeks and the weeks to months and the months to years. My mom continuously showed her love and concern for them until they could get back on their feet and through her caring nature we learned how to love and care for others less fortunate than ourselves."
Hodge by no means kept herself at home. Her children remember when she needed supplies or something for them for school she would take a taxi and go to Port of Spain and the market where she is a favourite.
Her children say even though their mother cannot read or write she can count money very well.
Rhonda said, "Our mother is the matriarch, the backbone of our family. She is always positive and smiling."
She added, " Parenting is not an easy job. It is like a garden, you give it water everyday and nurture it and there will be an increase. You do not water it once a month or it will die."
For Mother's Day Hodge had advice for young mothers " Don't give your children to anyone else to raise, raise them yourself. Be encouraged there is no difficulty that you cannot overcome. Trust God, be positive, live right, do your duty and always give love."