NOTHING PERSONNEL KID
The 81-year old Carmela Batista lives in a Fort Lauderdale park with her daughter, Ana. The pair has been homeless for two years.
"I always said I have a perfect life. That's why being here, now, is like a shock," she told the outlet.
Eighty-three years ago, her mother, Marina Estevez, had a brief affair with the then-married Cuban leader.
When Carmela was born the following year in 1935, Fulgencio Batista had already staged a military coup, and was elected president for his first period in office when she turned five.
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Despite his brutal rule, Carmela Batista still defends her father's legacy.
"He was a strong man, but he was, like I said, a friend," she said, adding that although he had eight other children, he visited her regularly, and shared his fortunes. "He was like my best friend."
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All of his children were given an equal share of his wealth, totaling well over a million dollars each.
Batista, since her father’s exile, had been living in Fort Lauderdale.
She had taken jobs as a piano teacher and medical secretary, and sent Ana to the most expensive private schools — back when she had no financial worries.
But soon, things took a turn.
"I lost my money with the stock market," Carmela said.
She also racked up US$17,000 in American Express visa charges that she couldn't pay back, which lead to a judgment against her.
When she took out a mortgage on her house and failed keep up the payments, her home underwent foreclosure proceedings.
Soon they couldn't afford to pay the water bill and a lien was sent from the city of Fort Lauderdale. Because of the foreclosure, the house was lost in a short sale, selling last year for US$830,000.
Carmela and Ana have now started a crowdfunding campaign on YouCaring.com in the hope of changing their situation.
