Radica’s Story

This week, I visited Willowdale Manor, a charming yet quiet living facility for seniors. While I met many warm and wonderful individuals, none were as captivating or as kind as Radica.

Radica stood about five and a half feet tall, wearing a red jacket that matched her walker. We spoke about her life, her challenges as a single mother, and her first winter as a newcomer to Canada. This is her story.

Radica Kamalanathan immigrated from Guyana with dreams of pursuing post-secondary education. She spent months saving every penny and borrowing what she could from her parents. Once she had enough to cover her living expenses and tuition, she boarded a one-way flight to Toronto, Ontario.

Shortly after arriving, she discovered that the school she had dreamed of attending had no record of her enrollment. Radica and other students from her hometown had been scammed. With no way home and no money, she did what she could to survive in Canada while avoiding deportation.

She worked under the table at a local restaurant and stayed on friends’ couches. On the brink of giving up hope, Radica fell in love with the chef. She described him as a kind and gentle man from Italy. Despite their cultural differences, they were determined to make their relationship work. Their happiness was short-lived, however, as her partner tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack. Radica recalls how his loss forever changed her life and attributes her distaste for marriage to this devastating experience.

Determined to move forward, Radica threw herself into work. Her focus shifted to saving enough money to bring her parents and brothers to Canada. Over time, she purchased her own home and assisted each family member as they navigated life in the unfamiliar and often cold Canadian culture. Radica, however, reflects on those years with mixed emotions. While proud of her role in helping her family, she recalls feelings of loneliness and longing for a family of her own while supporting her brothers as they built theirs.

Determined to fulfill her dream of motherhood, Radica set out to have a child. Her son, Brian, was born in the late 1990s—a beautiful and healthy baby boy. She raised him in a multigenerational home alongside her parents. Radica calls Brian the greatest love of her life and is amazed at the person he has become. She is incredibly proud of his accomplishments, including his gift for playing the saxophone, which she loves to hear. Brian became her pillar of strength when she began losing her vision due to a medical condition that causes internal bleeding in her eyes.

Today, Radica enjoys her retirement. She credits Willowdale Manor for giving her the time and resources to explore leisure activities she missed out on in her younger years. Looking to the future, she hopes to attend her mother’s 93rd birthday celebration—a grand event that will bring her entire family together.

Reflecting on her life, Radica shared, “The greatest form of love is a parent’s love.”