This is the story of my family - but especially my mother, Rivcha, who was an extremely courageous young woman. At 23, she was left with two young children in a small town in Poland. Her husband went to America in search of a better life and it took seven long years for her husband - and my father - to send for his family to join him. It was only because of her resourcefulness, wisdom, knowledge, and courage that we managed to survive. How this extraordinary woman was able to face what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles and challenges, with two young children was nothing short of a miracle. We arrived in this new land of America just before the Great Depression - with nowhere to turn for help - yet somehow, despite our struggles - we endured and ultimately thrived. The story is told through the eyes of her daughter, Irena, who was only 4-years old when her father left their home in Poland to come to America.