Tu Revista Latina Magazine

Sam Cueto

For most mothers, a pregnancy is a wonderful, blessed event. Alice Cueto’s pregnancy was no exception. She anticipated the birth of her child with much love and excitement. And like every mother, she longed for that first encounter when she would finally get to hold her baby and caress his soft skin. She had so much to look forward to—his first step, his first word his first day of school. That sweet baby boy named Sam, after his father, would exceed all their expectations from day one.

Soon after Sam was born the doctor told his parents that he was concerned with the circumference of Sam’s head. Somewhat in denial and positive that nothing was wrong with her little boy, Alice quickly responded by saying that Sam took after his father in that aspect. Everyone chuckled and the doctor proceeded to order some tests to be sure that everything was fine. After what seemed like an eternal wait, the results were in; Sam had been diagnosed with a condition known as hydrocephalus or water in the brain. Immediately, they scheduled a surgery that would relieve the pressure on his brain and drain the excess liquid. The surgery took care of his pressing ailment but did nothing to resolve the multitude of medical problems that Sam was to encounter along the way.

Alice noticed that certain things were not developing normally when Sam was a baby. She noticed that his muscles were very tense and he would not bounce up and down like most babies. After a series of tests, it was discovered that Sam had tumors along his spine, and surgery to remove them would be dangerous. What’s more, because of the pressure of the tumors, as Sam grew older, he developed scoliosis or curving of his spine.

On January 10, 2006, when Sam was only 8 years old, Alice was taking him a bath. He was sitting in his little Spider Man chair propped inside the bath tub, when he said to her, “Mom do you know where I was before I was born?” Alice looked at him and said, “Yes, you were in heaven.” He confirmed by motioning upward with his eyes and said, “Yeah, I came from up there.” Sam told her that God had sent him down to earth. He said that before he was born, he was anxious to know who his parents were but God only told him that they would be the greatest parents he could possibly have.

By this time, Alice was doing everything she could to keep from crying. Her eyes inevitably welled up with tears as she attempted to swallow the huge lump in her throat. Her mind raced full of questions. Why is he talking about this? Does he know something? Is he getting some sort of premonition? Is he getting nervous about his surgery coming up? What’s wrong? Is he scared? Should I ask him questions?
Do I really want to know the answers?

Sam continued in a very calm, nonchalant manner to say that God told him that he would go back to heaven one day and they would all be one big happy family. Alice was no longer able to hold in her emotions or the tears but she also needed to know. She pulled herself together long enough to frightfully ask, “Did He tell you when you would be going back?” As he nods his head Sam replies, “He didn’t tell me that, He just said one day.” Not satisfied with the answer, as she wanted a more direct one, Alice dried her tears and asked, “Who is in the big happy family?” Sam said, “Well, Buelita and Buelito, Grandma and Grandpa, you and dad and dad’s uncle—Buelita’s brother.” Again, it was not the answer she was looking for so she pried further, “So me and dad will be in heaven waiting for you?” He answered, “I don’t know who will be there first. God didn’t tell me that.”

He proceeded with his story as if recalling what he had done the previous weekend. He tells Alice that in heaven he played basketball and baseball and that he could walk and run without his walker. Longing for some answers regarding his disabilities, Alice asked Sam if God happened to mention anything about how things on earth would be for him. Once more, Sam did not have the answer Alice was looking for. “No, He did not tell me how things would be here.”

Sam Cueto and family Alice wrapped Sam’s petite body in a warm towel straight from the dryer. She sat on the commode with Sam on her lap and she held him tight. The conversation continued and Sam told Alice that he really didn’t want to leave heaven and come to earth. Sam admits that it was a lot of fun and really nice there. His consolation for having to leave, was knowing that he would one day return. Alice silently breaks down as tears stream down her face. Not wanting to upset Sam, she simply held him in the warm towel for a few minutes. Hugging him, probably a little tighter that he would like, with his back towards her face. Alice picked Sam up and carried him to his bedroom where she sat him on his bed. She ran to the bathroom to take a look at her face in the mirror. Alice cleaned herself up and returned to Sam’s room where he patiently waited for her so that he could finish his story.

Alice totally understood why Sam would rather be in heaven when he told her that, on one of his birthdays, God gave him a miniature zoo with little animals that could talk. Sam got a more serious tone in his voice as he said, “God told me I have a mission and when my mission is done I can go back to heaven.” Curiously, Alice asked, “What is your mission?” “I have to teach people. I guess I’ll remember more when I have to, but God told me it would be a long mission.” Finally, a closer answer to what Alice had hoped to hear. She held on tight to the fact that it would be a “long” mission.

Today, Sam is a quadriplegic, a condition that has not stopped him from being a straight “A” 6th grader, a wonderful poet and a very talented artist. He continues to exceed every expectation Alice and Sam Cueto had for a son. At his tender age of 12, he continues to inspire people by the masses with his extraordinary ability and his beautiful spirit. Sam is gifted and insightful yet compassionate and kind, patient, tolerant and truly an inspiration to those who have the pleasure of meeting him.

By Gloria Vaquera and Alice Cueto

Spring 2010