Imagine being thrown out by your own sons only to end up a millionaire. That’s exactly what happened to me after my boys left me with nothing.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My husband, Todd, and I wanted our twins, Cole and Elijah, to become doctors. We were uneducated and lived on a ranch, but we worked hard for our boys’ education. After Todd died in a buffalo stampede, I even became a maid to fund their schooling.
Years later, a wealthy rancher tempted my boys to sell our land. “We’ve decided to take up John’s offer, Mom,” Cole told me at dinner one evening.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“But we really need that money, Mom,” my other son argued.
I was adamant and still refused.
So the next day, they threw me out, claiming the land was in their names. My siblings wouldn’t help, so I had to go to a homeless shelter. Thankfully, the shelter became my new family. I also found solace working as a maid for Mr. Williams. He was an elderly businessman, who not only paid me well but also listened to my worries.
One day, the inevitable happened: Mr. Williams passed away in his sleep. I was shocked to learn he left me his fortune, but there was a condition: I couldn’t share the millions with my kids or siblings — the people who abandoned me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My boys, realizing I was wealthy, asked for money. But I refused. My new family in the shelter deserved the support, not the sons who abandoned me in my time of need. Always remember that if you disrespect your parents, you only deserve disrespect in return.
Moving on, let’s see what surprise life had in store for Amanda and her grandmother, Natalie.
Meet James Martin, the First Actor With Down Syndrome to Win an Oscar
When James Martin was born, doctors told his parents that he might never speak. However, he did not only learn to speak, but 31 years later, on his birthday, he walked on Hollywood’s biggest stage to collect his Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, An Irish Goodbye. James became the first actor with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award. And, as icing on the cake, the entire audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
James Martin never let his condition hold him back.
James Martin’s father, Ivan Martin, is very proud of his son and revealed that he does everything with great gusto, and he’s very glad that his efforts have paid off.
“He has spent his life pushing the envelope. People are very good at saying, ’You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’… He’s done it, and he does it consistently,” he said.
Martin is the first person with Down syndrome to win not just a BAFTA but an Oscar too, and he’s very proud of himself. “It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do. I do what I can to be funny,” he said.
His girlfriend also supports him and says the win was a magical moment. “It shows to everyone that it’s changing your mindset on how people with disabilities can achieve as much as everyone else can,” she declared.
For the past 10 years, Martin has been working at Starbucks.
His co-workers and manager at Starbucks are very proud of Martin and his acting success, and to support him, good-luck posters were placed in the coffee chain’s city stores.
However, Martin’s dad revealed that despite the fame, he doesn’t see his son quitting his job as a barista anytime soon.
Martin caught the acting bug after he joined the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company for children with learning disabilities.
There, Martin did all types of shows, and he enjoyed every moment spent there. This was a stepping stone for him, as he later managed to land the lead role in Ups and Downs, starring alongside actress Susan Lynch.
Martin then went on to land a role in the series, Marcella, but his role in An Irish Goodbye, which won him both a BAFTA and an Oscar, is his most high-profile role to date.
Preview photo credit MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/East News, An Irish Goodbye / First Flights and co-producers
Leave a Reply