Latest news with #Pola
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Dog's 'Ceremony' When Getting a Treat Leaves Viewers in Hysterics
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog owner has gone viral for showing her pup's "interpretive dance" when she gets a special treat. Pola is described on her owner's TikTok account, @polathegoldentatra, as a golden Tatra—a cross between a golden retriever and Tatra shepherd dog. Tatras are a large livestock guardian breed originating from the Tatra Mountains in Poland, while golden retrievers are a popular choice as family pets due to their gentle and obedient nature. Pola's personality quirks are often showcased on her TikTok account, from digging holes in the garden, admiring herself in the mirror, and following her owner around for attention. Now one clip has gone viral, as it showed what Pola does when given a raw bone as a treat, and the ritual she does with it. In the video, Pola's owner gives her a large raw bone with plenty of meat still n it, which the pup happily takes in her mouth. Words over the footage read: "Sacrifice accepted. Let the ceremony begin." That "ceremony" was quick to appear, as the clip then switches to Pola outside in the garden, the bone now sitting on the grass, as the dog jumps around it. She jumps forward and back, her ears and tail flopping, almost as if she is doing a ritualistic dance for the food. The video finishes with Pola lying on the ground, rubbing her face against the bone—but, so far, has not appeared to have eaten any of it. Her owner captioned the clip with the hashtag "interpretive dance." It proved hugely popular, racking up close to 90,000 likes and over 654,000 views, as animal lovers shared their own stories. "My dog finishes the ritual by burying the bone before she's even eaten it. She then spends a week digging up the yard trying to recall where she buried it to resurrect it," one wrote. "My lab just did that with a yak chew," another posted, as a third asked: "Omg [oh my God] do they all do this?" "Mine hides them under the sofa and then whines at me to retrieve it, then stashes it under the sofa again," one viewer wrote. "Why can't he be doing sacrificial dance offs instead?" Another said the video was "hilarious," adding, "What a ceremony," as a third jokingly warned Pola "could summon a demon and sell your soul for more treats." Some commenters were concerned that the bone could be dangerous for Pola, as it could damage her teeth or splinter, causing her to choke. There are benefits to bones: they are a good source of minerals, and the chewing prevents plaque buildup and gum disease, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, bones do come with health hazards: cooked ones are at risk of shattering when chewed, which can damage a dog's mouth, throat or intestines, or cause choking. The risk is lower with raw bones. Pola dances around the bone in the garden and rubs her face against it. Pola dances around the bone in the garden and rubs her face against it. TikTok @polathegoldentatra The AKC notes that some veterinarians suggest raw meat bones for canines, but they come with the risk of bacteria such as salmonella, and could still damage a dog's teeth. Owners should discuss with their vet before giving them a raw meat bone. Dogs should be supervised when chewing on a bone, and larger breeds should get large ones to prevent swallowing; there are also plenty of chew toys that have a similar texture to bones, which could be a good alternative. Newsweek has contacted @polathegoldentatra via TikTok for comment on this story. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Two of my miracle triplets are slowly dying from dementia, aged 7… their sister's heartbreaking question broke me
The couple battled for six years to have their precious babies DEATH SENTENCE Two of my miracle triplets are slowly dying from dementia, aged 7… their sister's heartbreaking question broke me WHEN Pola Walotka asked 'Mummy, will they get better?' her mother Marta was forced to give her a heartbreaking answer. Tragically, she had to tell her seven-year-old daughter that her triplet siblings would never recover. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Daniel and Marta with (L-R) Nina, Pola and Lena on Christmas Eve 2024 Credit: Supplied 9 Pola (left) with sisters Lena and Nina, who suffer from the rare condition Batten's disease Credit: Supplied Lena and Nina have a rare condition that eventually rob them of their lives - and the life they share with triplet sister Pola. Mum Marta, 44, who organises play activities for the council, and lives in Belfast with husband Daniel, an IT programmer said: "It broke my heart when she asked me that question. "But we just take each day as it comes, and we enjoy the time that we have together. Pola is fantastic with her sisters,. She lies next to them and holds their hands and she reads stories to them. They are her world." When Marta first held her newborn triplet daughters, in February 2018, she had been full of hope for the future. She and husband Daniel, 49, had been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for six years, and had already had two failed IVF attempts. So when daughters Lena, Nina, and Pola were born, they thought their battle was behind them and they could start life as a family of five. But a cruel twist of fate has destroyed their dream of a happy future - after two of the girls were diagnosed with Batten's Disease. It strikes around the age of two, with the onset of dementia-like symptoms, and eventually leads to severe disability and premature death. It means that triplet Pola will eventually be left to grow up without her adored sisters Lena and Nina. Marta said: "The three of them have an incredible bond, even though the girls can't communicate now, Pola instinctively knows what they want." 'Worst disease you've never heard of' steals little Sadie's ability to walk, talk, eat and sing at just 7 - after she hit all milestones 9 The triplets were born in February 2018 Credit: Supplied 9 They were thriving at five months Credit: Supplied Fertility battle The couple got married in 2007 and waited five years before trying for a family in 2017. When they were unsuccessful, they went for tests, but nothing was found. Marta said: "It was put down to unexplained infertility, with work, stress and lifestyle playing a part. So we decided to try fertility treatment and went to a clinic for help." They underwent their first round of IVF, where doctors extracted Marta's eggs, which were fertilised with Daniel's sperm and put back into her womb, It failed on the first two attempts, which was heartbreaking for the couple. Marta said: "We never gave up. It was devastating when it didn't work, but we wanted a baby so much that we were determined to carry on going." On the third attempt doctors put back two embryos and two weeks later Marta made the amazing discovery that she was pregnant. She said: "We were absolutely thrilled that it had happened at last for us, after all these years of trying. A few weeks later we were one holiday in Portugal and I started bleeding. We were terrified we were going to lose them and went to a local hospital where they carried out a scan. "It was then that I found I was pregnant with twins. We couldn't believe it. They were both healthy and they showed us the scan picture with two little sacs." 9 The girls celebrate their sixth birthday in 2024 Credit: Supplied 9 (L to R) Nina, Pola and Lena at Christmas in 2021 Credit: Supplied Four weeks later, back home in Belfast, Marta went for another scan and got a massive shock. She said: "The sonographer put the scanner on to my stomach and said 'Do you know what that is…..it's another one. You're actually pregnant with triplets." "I couldn't say anything I was so shocked. We'd only just got over the surprise of having twins, and now we were being told that I was actually pregnant not with one baby…but three!' Marta's pregnancy went smoothly, apart from morning sickness, and even through it was deemed a risky pregnancy because one of the embryos had split, causing identical twins, the triplets were all healthy. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. Marta Walotka She said: "I was scanned regularly, and Daniel and I couldn't wait to meet our girls." At 29 weeks pregnant, Marta woke up and discovered her waters had broken. She was taken to hospital where the doctors gave her steroid injections to try and help develop the babies' lungs and then they were delivered by emergency caesarian. She said: "When they finally arrived, they were so tiny, but after only eight weeks in hospital we were allowed to bring them home. They had done so well. "I was breastfeeding them all and they were thriving. Mum came to stay with us to help and they were meeting their milestones. "They were a little behind, but that was to be expected with such a premature birth. Lena and Nina were even doing better than Pola, and crawling before her." 9 The girls were nearly three when the first symptoms occurred Credit: Supplied 9 The girls have tragically lost their speech and sight because of the cruel disease Credit: Supplied Devastating diagnosis The girls grew normally until they were nearly three years old when suddenly, on Halloween 2020, Lena had a seizure. Marta said: "We were at home, and suddenly she stopped moving and her eyes rolled back in her head. It was terrifying. We called an ambulance and paramedics came and checked her out, but by that time she was fine. "We thought it was a one-off but then just a few days later we got a called from their activity centre where they went for childcare, to say that one of the girls was having a seizure. "We rushed over, thinking it was Lena again, but actually it was Nina. Saliva was coming out of the side of her mouth and her arm was stiff. "An ambulance arrived and took her to hospital where she was observed and the doctors said they thought she was having a panic attack. So we were allowed to bring her home, but then it kept on happening." Doctors eventually diagnosed both with epilepsy and they were put on medication and given ECG and MRI scans in January 2021, then were referred for genetic testing too. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. Marta Walotka In December that year, the couple received a devastating phone call from the consultant, who told them that both girls had Batten's Disease. Marta said: "We had never even heard of it, and had no idea what it was. When we looked at it on the internet, we were terrified. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. "We had three lovely daughters who were so smiley, happy and chatty. How could this possibly be happening to them?" What is Batten's Disease? Batten's Disease is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder that primary affects the nervous system and often starts in childhood. There are several different types of the condition. It causes a build up of waste material in the brain cells, leading to decline in various functions, such as vision, motor skills, and cognitive decline, eventually leading to premature death. Organisations like the Batten Disease Family Association provide valuable resources and support for individuals and families affected by Batten disease. The girls were put on an enzyme replacement drug called Brinerua, which isn't a cure for the condition but can ease symptoms. While it has helped the girls, a recent ruling means the drug will no longer be given to any new patients, even though existing patients can continue on it. Marta said: "It has given us much better quality time with our girls and slowed down the progression of the disease. It seems very unfair that families who are going to go through what we have won't be able to have access to this drug. "It's a horrific disease and it's taking the life away from our daughters. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. 'It's heartbreaking. Pola is there for them every step of the way, so they all still have each other. They all have the most incredible bond and are making the most of that whilst they can."
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Two of my miracle triplets are slowly dying from dementia, aged 7… their sister's heartbreaking question broke me
WHEN Pola Walotka asked 'Mummy, will they get better?' her mother Marta was forced to give her a heartbreaking answer. Tragically, she had to tell her seven-year-old daughter that her triplet siblings would never recover. 9 9 Lena and Nina have a rare condition that eventually rob them of their lives - and the life they share with triplet sister Pola. Mum Marta, 44, who organises play activities for the council, and lives in Belfast with husband Daniel, an IT programmer said: "It broke my heart when she asked me that question. "But we just take each day as it comes, and we enjoy the time that we have together. Pola is fantastic with her sisters,. She lies next to them and holds their hands and she reads stories to them. They are her world." When Marta first held her newborn triplet daughters, in February 2018, she had been full of hope for the future. She and husband Daniel, 49, had been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for six years, and had already had two failed IVF attempts. So when daughters Lena, Nina, and Pola were born, they thought their battle was behind them and they could start life as a family of five. But a cruel twist of fate has destroyed their dream of a happy future - after two of the girls were diagnosed with Batten's Disease. It strikes around the age of two, with the onset of dementia-like symptoms, and eventually leads to severe disability and premature death. It means that triplet Pola will eventually be left to grow up without her adored sisters Lena and Nina. Marta said: "The three of them have an incredible bond, even though the girls can't communicate now, Pola instinctively knows what they want." 'Worst disease you've never heard of' steals little Sadie's ability to walk, talk, eat and sing at just 7 - after she hit all milestones 9 9 Fertility battle The couple got married in 2007 and waited five years before trying for a family in 2017. When they were unsuccessful, they went for tests, but nothing was found. Marta said: "It was put down to unexplained infertility, with work, stress and lifestyle playing a part. So we decided to try fertility treatment and went to a clinic for help." They underwent their first round of IVF, where doctors extracted Marta's eggs, which were fertilised with Daniel's sperm and put back into her womb, It failed on the first two attempts, which was heartbreaking for the couple. Marta said: "We never gave up. It was devastating when it didn't work, but we wanted a baby so much that we were determined to carry on going." On the third attempt doctors put back two embryos and two weeks later Marta made the amazing discovery that she was pregnant. She said: "We were absolutely thrilled that it had happened at last for us, after all these years of trying. A few weeks later we were one holiday in Portugal and I started bleeding. We were terrified we were going to lose them and went to a local hospital where they carried out a scan. "It was then that I found I was pregnant with twins. We couldn't believe it. They were both healthy and they showed us the scan picture with two little sacs." 9 9 Four weeks later, back home in Belfast, Marta went for another scan and got a massive shock. She said: "The sonographer put the scanner on to my stomach and said 'Do you know what that is…..it's another one. You're actually pregnant with triplets." "I couldn't say anything I was so shocked. We'd only just got over the surprise of having twins, and now we were being told that I was actually pregnant not with one baby…but three!' Marta's pregnancy went smoothly, apart from morning sickness, and even through it was deemed a risky pregnancy because one of the embryos had split, causing identical twins, the triplets were all healthy. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. Marta Walotka She said: "I was scanned regularly, and Daniel and I couldn't wait to meet our girls." At 29 weeks pregnant, Marta woke up and discovered her waters had broken. She was taken to hospital where the doctors gave her steroid injections to try and help develop the babies' lungs and then they were delivered by emergency caesarian. She said: "When they finally arrived, they were so tiny, but after only eight weeks in hospital we were allowed to bring them home. They had done so well. "I was breastfeeding them all and they were thriving. Mum came to stay with us to help and they were meeting their milestones. "They were a little behind, but that was to be expected with such a premature birth. Lena and Nina were even doing better than Pola, and crawling before her." 9 9 Devastating diagnosis The girls grew normally until they were nearly three years old when suddenly, on Halloween 2020, Lena had a seizure. Marta said: "We were at home, and suddenly she stopped moving and her eyes rolled back in her head. It was terrifying. We called an ambulance and paramedics came and checked her out, but by that time she was fine. "We thought it was a one-off but then just a few days later we got a called from their activity centre where they went for childcare, to say that one of the girls was having a seizure. "We rushed over, thinking it was Lena again, but actually it was Nina. Saliva was coming out of the side of her mouth and her arm was stiff. "An ambulance arrived and took her to hospital where she was observed and the doctors said they thought she was having a panic attack. So we were allowed to bring her home, but then it kept on happening." Doctors eventually diagnosed both with epilepsy and they were put on medication and given ECG and MRI scans in January 2021, then were referred for genetic testing too. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. Marta Walotka In December that year, the couple received a devastating phone call from the consultant, who told them that both girls had Batten's Disease. Marta said: "We had never even heard of it, and had no idea what it was. When we looked at it on the internet, we were terrified. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. "We had three lovely daughters who were so smiley, happy and chatty. How could this possibly be happening to them?" What is Batten's Disease? Batten's Disease is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder that primary affects the nervous system and often starts in childhood. There are several different types of the condition. It causes a build up of waste material in the brain cells, leading to decline in various functions, such as vision, motor skills, and cognitive decline, eventually leading to premature death. Organisations like the Batten Disease Family Association provide valuable resources and support for individuals and families affected by Batten disease. The girls were put on an enzyme replacement drug called Brinerua, which isn't a cure for the condition but can ease symptoms. While it has helped the girls, a recent ruling means the drug will no longer be given to any new patients, even though existing patients can continue on it. Marta said: "It has given us much better quality time with our girls and slowed down the progression of the disease. It seems very unfair that families who are going to go through what we have won't be able to have access to this drug. "It's a horrific disease and it's taking the life away from our daughters. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. 'It's heartbreaking. Pola is there for them every step of the way, so they all still have each other. They all have the most incredible bond and are making the most of that whilst they can." 9
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Two of my miracle triplets are slowly dying from dementia, aged 7… their sister's heartbreaking question broke me
WHEN Pola Walotka asked 'Mummy, will they get better?' her mother Marta was forced to give her a heartbreaking answer. Tragically, she had to tell her seven-year-old daughter that her triplet siblings would never recover. Advertisement 9 Daniel and Marta with (L-R) Nina, Pola and Lena on Christmas Eve 2024 Credit: Supplied 9 Pola (left) with sisters Lena and Nina, who suffer from the rare condition Batten's disease Credit: Supplied Lena and Nina have a rare condition that eventually rob them of their lives - and the life they share with triplet sister Pola. Mum Marta, 44, who organises play activities for the council, and lives in Belfast with husband Daniel, an IT programmer said: "It broke my heart when she asked me that question. "But we just take each day as it comes, and we enjoy the time that we have together. Pola is fantastic with her sisters,. She lies next to them and holds their hands and she reads stories to them. They are her world." When Marta first held her newborn triplet daughters, in February 2018, she had been full of hope for the future. Advertisement Read More Features She and husband Daniel, 49, had been trying unsuccessfully for a baby for six years, and had already had two failed IVF attempts. So when daughters Lena, Nina, and Pola were born, they thought their battle was behind them and they could start life as a family of five. But a cruel twist of fate has destroyed their dream of a happy future - after two of the girls were diagnosed with Batten's Disease. It strikes around the age of two, with the onset of dementia-like symptoms, and eventually leads to severe disability and premature death. Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Exclusive It means that triplet Pola will eventually be left to grow up without her adored sisters Lena and Nina. Marta said: "The three of them have an incredible bond, even though the girls can't communicate now, Pola instinctively knows what they want." 'Worst disease you've never heard of' steals little Sadie's ability to walk, talk, eat and sing at just 7 - after she hit all milestones 9 The triplets were born in February 2018 Credit: Supplied 9 They were thriving at five months Credit: Supplied Advertisement Fertility battle The couple got married in 2007 and waited five years before trying for a family in 2017. When they were unsuccessful, they went for tests, but nothing was found. Marta said: "It was put down to unexplained infertility, with work, stress and lifestyle playing a part. So we decided to try fertility treatment and went to a clinic for help." They underwent their first round of IVF, where doctors extracted Marta's eggs, which were fertilised with Daniel's sperm and put back into her womb, It failed on the first two attempts, which was heartbreaking for the couple. Advertisement Marta said: "We never gave up. It was devastating when it didn't work, but we wanted a baby so much that we were determined to carry on going." On the third attempt doctors put back two embryos and two weeks later Marta made the amazing discovery that she was pregnant. She said: "We were absolutely thrilled that it had happened at last for us, after all these years of trying. A few weeks later we were one holiday in Portugal and I started bleeding. We were terrified we were going to lose them and went to a local hospital where they carried out a scan. "It was then that I found I was pregnant with twins. We couldn't believe it. They were both healthy and they showed us the scan picture with two little sacs." Advertisement 9 The girls celebrate their sixth birthday in 2024 Credit: Supplied 9 (L to R) Nina, Pola and Lena at Christmas in 2021 Credit: Supplied Four weeks later, back home in Belfast, Marta went for another scan and got a massive shock. She said: "The sonographer put the scanner on to my stomach and said 'Do you know what that is…..it's another one. You're actually pregnant with triplets." Advertisement "I couldn't say anything I was so shocked. We'd only just got over the surprise of having twins, and now we were being told that I was actually pregnant not with one baby…but three!' Marta's pregnancy went smoothly, apart from morning sickness, and even through it was deemed a risky pregnancy because one of the embryos had split, causing identical twins, the triplets were all healthy. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. Marta Walotka She said: "I was scanned regularly, and Daniel and I couldn't wait to meet our girls." At 29 weeks pregnant, Marta woke up and discovered her waters had broken. She was taken to hospital where the doctors gave her steroid injections to try and help develop the babies' lungs and then they were delivered by emergency caesarian. Advertisement She said: "When they finally arrived, they were so tiny, but after only eight weeks in hospital we were allowed to bring them home. They had done so well. "I was breastfeeding them all and they were thriving. Mum came to stay with us to help and they were meeting their milestones. "They were a little behind, but that was to be expected with such a premature birth. Lena and Nina were even doing better than Pola, and crawling before her." 9 The girls were nearly three when the first symptoms occurred Credit: Supplied Advertisement 9 The girls have tragically lost their speech and sight because of the cruel disease Credit: Supplied Devastating diagnosis The girls grew normally until they were nearly three years old when suddenly, on Halloween 2020, Lena had a seizure. Marta said: "We were at home, and suddenly she stopped moving and her eyes rolled back in her head. It was terrifying. We called an ambulance and paramedics came and checked her out, but by that time she was fine. "We thought it was a one-off but then just a few days later we got a called from their activity centre where they went for childcare, to say that one of the girls was having a seizure. Advertisement "We rushed over, thinking it was Lena again, but actually it was Nina. Saliva was coming out of the side of her mouth and her arm was stiff. "An ambulance arrived and took her to hospital where she was observed and the doctors said they thought she was having a panic attack. So we were allowed to bring her home, but then it kept on happening." Doctors eventually diagnosed both with epilepsy and they were put on medication and given ECG and MRI scans in January 2021, then were referred for genetic testing too. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. Marta Walotka In December that year, the couple received a devastating phone call from the consultant, who told them that both girls had Batten's Disease. Advertisement Marta said: "We had never even heard of it, and had no idea what it was. When we looked at it on the internet, we were terrified. It was a death sentence. It was like a nightmare. "We had three lovely daughters who were so smiley, happy and chatty. How could this possibly be happening to them?" What is Batten's Disease? Batten's Disease is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder that primary affects the nervous system and often starts in childhood. There are several different types of the condition. It causes a build up of waste material in the brain cells, leading to decline in various functions, such as vision, motor skills, and cognitive decline, eventually leading to premature death. Organisations like the Batten Disease Family Association provide valuable resources and support for individuals and families affected by Batten disease. The girls were put on an enzyme replacement drug called Brinerua, which isn't a cure for the condition but can ease symptoms. While it has helped the girls, a recent ruling means the drug will no longer be given to any new patients, even though existing patients can continue on it. Advertisement Marta said: "It has given us much better quality time with our girls and slowed down the progression of the disease. It seems very unfair that families who are going to go through what we have won't be able to have access to this drug. "It's a horrific disease and it's taking the life away from our daughters. From being chatty, bubbly little toddlers, they have now lost their speech, they are in wheelchairs and they lost their vision two weeks ago. 'It's heartbreaking. Pola is there for them every step of the way, so they all still have each other. They all have the most incredible bond and are making the most of that whilst they can." 9 Lena and Nina are now in wheelchairs Credit: Supplied Advertisement
Boston Globe
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Carmen Pola, history-making Latina activist and civic leader, dies at 86
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up That day set the stage for Mrs. Polas's role in 'She was one of the pioneers. She had a real impact on the community,' said Garcia, who also was executive director of the United South End Settlements for 20 years, said Mrs. Pola 'was a leader, and leaders find a way to get in there and make change, and that's what she did.' 'Carmen's living legacy is a reminder to all of us — a reminder that every day we have an opportunity to lead, every day we have an opportunity to uplift voices and to open doors for others,' Heading community organizations and rallying hundreds of parents to attend meetings, Mrs. Pola was a key driving force behind the evolving approach to bilingual education in the Boston Public Schools in the 1970s and early '80s. 'We feel very strongly that any human being who has a knowledge of more than one language has a better understanding of people and can be of great service,' she told The Boston Globe in 1982. Two years earlier, Mrs. Pola had launched a historic primary election campaign to try to unseat Kevin Fitzgerald, the incumbent state representative in the Suffolk 17th District. Telling the Globe that she didn't like being 'put in the Spanish box,' she brought together a coalition of Latino, Black, Asian, and white campaign volunteers. Advertisement In a September 1980 editorial, the Globe endorsed her candidacy. 'A community activist who has worked especially hard on public housing and school issues, Pola has a solid grasp of the challenges confronting the Legislature and of the particular responsibilities she would bear as the first Hispanic representative from Boston,' the editorial said. She lost by a close margin, but her campaign set the stage for Latino candidates who followed. In the 1983 Boston mayoral election, she coordinated Flynn's campaign in the Hispanic community and introduced him in Spanish at events. Soon after Flynn was elected, he appointed Mrs. Pola to run the new mayor's office of constituent services. Her office was just steps away from Flynn's own in City Hall. As the administration began in 1984, the Globe called her 'the most influential' Latina official in Flynn's administration.' In Mrs. Pola's constituent services office, signs in English and Spanish welcomed visitors to 'la oficina del alcalde de servicios a los constituyentes.' In January 1985, Flynn named Mrs. Pola as his senior adviser on human needs. She was responsible for dealing with many of the city's major crises, such as fires, the homeless, and the hungry. She stayed in that job until leaving the administration in October 1986. Mrs. Pola accomplished her rise from Mission Hill community activist to the heights of City Hall with a background unlike most of her colleagues. 'I have a high school diploma and a library card,' she said in a 2014 interview with Eloise Libre. With a nod to Tremont Street, the thoroughfare that runs through multiple Boston neighborhoods, including Mission Hill, she added: 'I have a Ph.D. from Tremont University – at life.' Advertisement Carmen Aurora Villanueva-Garcia was born on May 1, 1939, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Miguelina Garcia, a hospital secretary, and Manuel Villanueva, an attorney. Mrs. Pola, who graduated from high school at 14, moved to the United States with her mother after her parents' marriage ended in divorce. Living initially in the Bronx, N.Y., they moved to California, where as a teenager Carmen was a farmworker, picking cherries, grapes, and walnuts. 'I'll tell you something, I don't eat any of them anymore,' she told the Globe in 1984. 'We were slaves,' she said of the workers' conditions. 'We lived in shacks, we cooked outside, and we had one shower for everyone in the field to share.' Within a couple of years, she was in Oakland, studying at a college and becoming a community activist. In 1961, she married Juan Pola, who was a truck driver before working in maintenance for Sylvania Electric Products after moving to Boston. He died in 2012. Mrs. Pola told the Globe that her activism was possible because she and Juan were 'equal partners. Whoever gets home first gets the household chores done.' 'She was always trying to make sure everybody was doing what they were supposed to be doing, and if there were any issues, she would resolve them,' said their daughter Rose of Baltimore, who added that subsequent generations turned to Mrs. Pola for guidance as well. In addition to Rose, Mrs. Pola leaves a son, Juan Pola Jr. of Cambridge; two other daughters, Mary Pola and Jacqueline Williams, both of Pawtucket, R.I.; a stepdaughter, Lynette Pola of California; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Advertisement A celebration of Mrs. Pola's life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the Boston Teachers Union in Dorchester. Mrs. Pola's honors included being the state recipient of After leaving her City Hall job, she helped found community organizations and nonprofits, and she continued to advise elected officials on issues of importance to Latinos. In all her advocacy, she stressed the need for people from different backgrounds, races, and neighborhoods to pursue their common goals. 'If we work together a little bit more, we will have a better world,' 'Nothing works when you do it by yourself,' she said, 'so you have to create a coalition.' Bryan Marquard can be reached at
