Superwoman of the Day: Ingrid Betancourt

Posted by Nadine Bells

This past Wednesday, Ingrid Betancourt tasted freedom. The Colombian presidential candidate was kidnapped while on the campaign trail 6 years ago by leftist rebels. And thanks to a creative and daring rescue by Columbian spies, she is in the arms of her children. And miraculously, after seven hours of medical examination, she has been given a clean bill of health.

She said she was "very, very surprised" not to have any physical side-effects after more than six years of captivity in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
"The spirit helps you to carry on," said Betancourt, who has often spoken of her Catholic faith and of a "spiritual protection."

Earlier, her sister Astrid had told AFP that the results of the tests were "satisfactory", stressing that the doctors had recommended rest for Betancourt , who has faced numerous interviews, press conferences and official receptions.

"Now, I'm going to be very sensible," said Betancourt, who is staying for several more days in France. "Besides, I want to take time to really enjoy this happiness with my children. This time of rest, it's a time I dreamed of," she said.

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I can't begin to imagine what I would do in her situation. Even in a letter to her mother and children published in April, Ingrid was bravely walking the line between hope and despair.

She wrote:

I am tired, Mamita, tired of suffering. I have been, or have tried to be, strong. These nearly six years of captivity have proved that I am not as resistant, not as brave, not as intelligent, not as strong as I thought. I have put up many battles, have tried to escape several times, have tried to keep up hope like one keeps one’s head above water....
For years I was unable to think of the children. I would feel as though I was smothering, that I couldn’t breathe. I nearly went mad on the death of my father. I never knew how it happened, who was with him, if he left me a message, a letter, a blessing. But, with the years, what has alleviated my torment is the thought that he died trusting in God and that one day I will be there to hug him. Of that I am certain.

And now I can hear [my children on the radio] and feel more joy than pain. I sustain myself with the images I keep in my memory. I sing “Happy Birthday” to them on every birthday. If [my captors] bring a cookie or some dish of rice and beans, I make believe it is a cake and celebrate their birthdays in my heart.

If I were to die today, I would go satisfied with life, thanking God for my children.

Mamita, [my captors] have come for the letters. I won’t be able to cover all I would like to write.

Over many years I have thought that as long as I live, as long as I breathe, I must keep up hope. I no longer have the same strength and it is now difficult for me to keep on believing. And so I don’t want to say goodbye. God willing, this will reach you. You are deep in my soul, my loveliest Mamita.

As always and for ever, your daughter, Ingrid Betancourt

Read the entire letter here.

She mentions her children on the radio. Her son Lorenzo called a radio station daily to talk to her. The airwaves were her only link to the outside, to her children. And his voice probably helped her survive.

Strength found in weakness always moves me deeply. While surrounded by evil, Ingrid could hear her son sing her "Happy Birthday."

Read the article about her son's radio contact here.

She's my hero. Superwoman of the year.

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Superwoman of the Day: Ingrid Betancourt

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