Maria grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico. She was forced by her poverty to grow up fast. She worked at the local bakery and when she was 13 years old, she had saved enough money to have eye surgery to correct a vision problem. Her father was ill and had not been employed but his manhood was challenged when Maria had the surgery and paid for it with her own money. He slapped her and beat her and the tears undid the surgery.
Maria is legally blind in her left eye. She joined a convent soon after that and came to the United States as a young adult. She married a military man and became pregnant with her first child. Her husband wanted her to get an abortion but she refused and she was beaten for that. She had a second child and was on welfare for a long time. Someone told her that hanging garlic in her van would protect her from evil, but the van was stolen after she hung up the garlic. Maria has an indomitable spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. She is patiently waiting for her ship to come in.