Still Rising: A Memoir

By Janice L. Santos

Janice Santos is living proof that it is always better to get up after falling down. In her inspirational memoir, Janice chronicles a story of unwavering faith, courage, and resilience while detailing how she bravely took on each challenge and obstacle thrown her way and continued to rise above it all, even in the face of death.

While growing up in the rural South as a daughter of sharecroppers, Santos reveals a happy childhood filled with love, despite their meager surroundings. As the family traveled to California with hope of a better life, Santos details how she dealt with bullies and embarked on a unique coming-of-age journey that eventually led her to New York on September 10, 2011, without any idea of how much her life would change the next morning. It turns out that being alone in New York during one of the worst events in the history of America was symbolic of a fight that would come years later for Santos.

Still Rising chronicles one womans journey from the rural South to the California coast, where she summoned strength from within, God, and her experiences in New York on 9/11 as she bravely faced the battle of her life and learned to stand up for what is right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491714140

Janice L. Santos

Janice Santos earned a master’s degree in social work from San Francisco State University. She is a seasoned social work practitioner, administrator, and certified domestic violence counselor who has spent the majority of her career working with vulnerable children and families. The Christian wife and mother lives in Northern California with her husband and three sons.

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Copyright © 2013 Janice L. Santos.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-1416-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-1415-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-1414-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922559

iUniverse rev. date: 12/17/2013

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. The Beginning

Chapter 2 . Tempered For The Test

Chapter 3. September 11, 2001

Chapter 4. Winning The Battle, Losing the War: 2003-2005

Chapter 5. Betrayal

Chapter 6 . Bankrupt

Chapter 7. November 2008

Chapter 8. Hurricane

Chapter 9. Gift to My Children

Chapter 10. Parting Words

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To God, who is the head of my life.

To my husband, Mario Santos Sr.: Thank you for believing in me and for your enduring love. You are my dearest and closest friend. I love you unconditionally and always will! This is for you and the dreams you have always had. Remember, dreams never die—now go and catch yours!

To my eldest son, Mario II: Know that you can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens you. I am so proud of the young man you have grown to be, and I’m honored to call you my son. I thank God for the special bond we have, sharing our birthdays. To my middle son, Marcus: God smiled and the angels cheered the day you were born. Thank you for your sweet, compassionate, and caring spirit, and thank you for loving me no matter what. To my youngest son, Malcolm: The angels smiled when you were born and knew that you would bring such joy and laughter to everyone you meet. Thanks for the extra hugs and kisses; they have gotten me through those really tough days. I am eternally grateful to God for blessing me with such caring and adoring men. I love each of you unconditionally and with all my heart!

To Nini: You are the daughter I never had; I thank God each day for making you a part of our family! I am so proud of you and the young lady that you have become. Just remember that we are here for you always and that the world is yours and you can be anything you want to be—just believe it!

To my mother, Vada: Without you, none of this would be possible. Thanks for being the wind beneath my wings! Thanks, most of all, for giving me a solid foundation in Jesus Christ! Thanks for your love, support, encouragement, and always listening without passing judgment. You are one amazing woman and I am honored to have you for a mother and role model!

To my father, Robert: Thanks for all your unconditional love, support, and financial assistance.

To my sister, Maxine: Thanks for believing in me and standing by me through thick and thin. Thanks for having my back and wanting nothing but the best for me. Above all, thanks for being my closest and dearest friend. I love you.

To my brother Robert: Thanks for all that you do. Thanks for believing in me and supporting me all these years. You are a man of few words—but when you speak, we listen. Love you forever!

To my brother Rodney: I love you with all my heart. Thanks for looking up to me and believing in me. Knowing that I had to be a role model for you has helped elevate me to a higher level. Thanks for listening and being supportive all these years. Love you forever!

To my childhood BFF Barbara: Barbs, you have been by my side through thick and thin. We have been through a lot together—friends since second grade. I can’t thank you enough for being one of my dearest friends. Love you forever!

To the Santos family: parents, Vicenta and Max: rest in peace. Virgil: rest in peace. Rose, Liz, Lou, Roy, Glo, Imee, Chris, Brian, Leah, Max, Kayla, and Auntie Minning: I love you all very much. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the Santos family. Mom, thanks for the prayers and rosaries to God on my behalf and the family’s behalf. I know he heard you!

To my godchildren, Joshlyn, Jenaha, Jude, Kianna, Amia, and Ashlynn: I thank God and your parents for trusting me to be a positive role model for you. I hope the lessons learned throughout my seasons will aid each of you and spare you some of life’s surprises. Please use this book as a guide to help you during those difficult and trying times.

To my inner circle of friends and their families: Ms. Vickie Bell and Ms. Wendy Edelen, without your support, love, and friendship I would not have survived my time at DHS. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the Farinas family: thanks for your encouragement, support, love, and laughter. God has truly blessed your life and I am honored to be a part of it. To the Nicolas family: thanks for inviting us into your circle and being a part of my circle of friends. Your love of family and creating lasting memories has been a godsend to me and my family, more than you will ever know. I am honored to call each of you friends!

To my mentors, Dr. Jimmie Gilyard, Ms. Frankie Holtz-Davis, Mr. Floyd Glenn, and Dr. Martha Roditti: whether you knew it or not, your prayers, words of encouragement, unconditional love, support, and motivation pushed me to higher heights.

To the staff and publication department at iUniverse publishing: Thank you to each of you (you know who you are). Thank you for your individual and collective work and support. Without your guidance, support, nudging, prodding, feedback, and publishing, this dream would not have become a reality!

To my church family, Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church: Thank you for allowing me to share my story with each of you and for creating space for me to be used as a vessel!

To everyone else related to me by blood and courageous enough to claim me as kin: Thank you for your support and encouragement!

To my fellow Christians: I hope this book gives you a little more strength and direction as you experience life and its seasons.

To those of you who are still looking and searching for a path to follow, a beacon of hope to cherish: Look within and find your inner strength. Find something that will sustain you during your stormy seasons and life’s struggles! It is my hope that you will also continue to rise!

All biblical references made throughout this book are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Some names of individuals and departments have been changed to protect their real identities.

All articles contained in this book have been reprinted with permission.

Chapter 1

THE BEGINNING

I was born in a small town in the South—Altheimer, Arkansas—to Vada Lee Pitts and Robert James Anderson, the proud children of sharecroppers. My parents had met in a small rural town in Arkansas, courted, and married. Into this beautiful union my mother bore four children. My sister Maxine is the eldest, followed by my brother Robert Earl, me, and then my youngest brother, Rodney James.

We lived in a small two-bedroom shack on a farm. We had chickens, cows, pigs, and a dog. I have fond memories of those times—playing in the dirt, jumping off the front porch. I also have memories of the harshness that came