Life After Tuberculosis
In 1953 after ten years from first onset of symptoms of TB, Madonna is finally cured. She worked at Sanator as a receptionist and later left to work at repairing jewelry, watches, and clocks. Madonna’s father died in 1953.
In 1956 Madonna married Jay Abdalla, who was an army friend of her brother Kermit. Together Madonna and Jay raised Austin Paul, the son of her sister. Madonna became an aide in the Head Start program and later a teacher. Madonna earned her Graduate Equivalency Diploma (General Educational Development - GED) in 1967. Although she completed 136 credit hours at the college level, Madonna was never able to earn her undergraduate degree due to her frail health. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her “son” Austin Paul, who graduated from college in 1979.
Madonna Swan-Abdalla was selected as the North American Indian Woman of the Year by her tribal sisters at Cheyenne River in 1983.
Read more about this topic: Madonna Swan
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