'My Mom, a Mexican Immigrant, Taught Me to Love America'

My name is Cristela Alonzo, and I am part of the legacy left behind by my mother, Natalia Alonzo. She died in front of me when I was 22.

She had been sick on and off for a couple years, but it wasn’t until the last year of her life that a doctor told us that my mom had suffered numerous strokes throughout her life. Each had weakened her heart every time.

I was living in Los Angeles and had to move back to my hometown, San Juan, Texas, to take care of her.