I was the first woman to give medical consultations and operate at the Hospital of St. Joseph and I may add honestly that was not easy to be accepted. My patients the first day refused to be helped by me, men in particular, was inadmissible to undress in front of a lady, screamed through the hallways. The women, after the initial surprise, they thanked God for being with someone who understood and knew how difficult life was, felt more at ease. It was their love and understanding of my patients that led me to choose the specialty of gynecology. The following year, my daughter Maria was born and despite my initial joy, Januario was sick, a victim of tuberculosis, I spent weeks at his bedside, watching over him, looking for new treatments in the literature that could save the love of my life and father of my daughter, in vain. On May 25th, 1910 exhaled his last breath. I thought I was going crazy with grief. What would a widow do with a daughter in her arms? Then, Adelaide came to my rescue, always sensible and practical, she told me it was not worth wasting any more tears, we have to roll up our sleeves and fight for a better world for me, for her, for my daughter and for the poor women we helped daily in the hospital, would also do it in memory of the great man who had been my husband. So, I helped found the League of Republican women in Portugal, where I was vice president and was still active in the Portuguese women's association, which also proud to have participated. Deliver my time in withdrawal of my family and my health to defend what I believed in. There were times of discouragement, but never flinched before the clash of ideas and prejudices that were rampant in society generally. On May 28th, 1911, census enumerated: 2513, after years of struggle in which claim the right to vote, that initially I was vetoed and due to a loophole exploited by the judge and the father of Ana Castro, Baptista Castro, I was the first woman to vote in Portugal and Europe. This could only have happened in our country. It was an exception. The law was subsequently changed to prevent the women's vote. Rascals! The first step was taken however. This one is on me! The first battle is won, lack to win the war, if they do not open the door at least they won't put us on the street. Unfortunately, so much effort on my part had an effect in July this year confessed to a friend that I have worked hard the whole day to discuss, to think, so I have a brain in constant boiling that after I have periods of tiredness and fatigue like never. If I can this up the only consolation I have is too lived too much too soon. And so it went. We cannot escape time. My hour was approaching when least expected my heart betrayed me. Stopped. On the 3rd of October of 1911. It's all right others more will come to fight, after me. My only regret is not being alive to see that day.
http://www.fcsh.unl.pt/facesdeeva/eva_arquivo/revista_11/eva_arquivo_numero11_j.html
