Mother's Day calls for a special post about my mom. My mom and I have a great relationship. I know that I can tell her anything and she'll always listen and give good advice without judging, she has always been there for me, and although it was very hard for her while I lived in France for two years, she never complained and supported me when I went back for a second year.
My mom is a remarkable woman. She struggled against a lot of sexist attitudes in her desire to be a scientist and has been remarkably successful. She kept her maiden name despite societal pressure to change it and has always been very strong her feminist viewpoint. She has fought tooth and nail for all of her kids to succeed in whatever they wanted to do.
All of this would be amazing in anyone, and then you add on top of that the fact that for the past six years one of her children has been fighting a life threatening illness, and she becomes even more amazing. When I was first diagnosed she stayed in the hospital with me every night during my month-long hospital stay. She moved across the country with me to get my first transplant, living apart from my dad for four months, and somehow their marriage is stronger than ever today. Because I have near constant immune problems she has changed the way she cooks and cleans just for me, just to keep me safe. She goes to all of my appointments and procedures and always asks good questions to make sure everything is working the way it is supposed to. And did I mention that the type of research she does is on cancer, and types of drugs she works with (nucleoside analogs) are the drugs they use for my type of leukemia? I can't imagine what a nightmare it must be to know exactly what can go wrong with your kid, but my mom believes that knowledge is power and that makes her the most powerful mom in the cancer center.
I love my mom, and I can never show her enough how much she means to me and how much I look up to her and hope to be just like her someday.
8 comments:
That was super sweet - I hope you mom is reading that!
You are right, it must have been hard for her to see you leave for France - I know it was hard for mine to see me leave to Canada. Yet, as my own mother says, "on ne fait pas des enfants pour soi". I respect the fact my parents respect my choices and I love them both for that and many other things!
Well written and it both hurt and lifted.
My mom was a single mom (after a bad diforce from my dad). She worked the night shift 11pm-6am for better pay and I kept my sisters and brother in line by sheer will. Oh, soleil, we should do more email, you have so much to offer my dear.
WOW! I love your mom, too... after reading that! I always knew your mom was special by the way you spoke about her... but I didn't realize all the things about her you mentioned in this post! That brought tears to my eyes... You are so blessed to have a wonderful woman in your life....
Happy Mother's Day to your wonderful mom.. Give her a big hug from me... and tell her how special she is from me, too!
I'm so happy you have such an awesome mother - and having such a good support system around you really can make all the difference!
Sweet post. Say Hi to Aunty for me.
-A
Zhu - I'm sure your mom and my mom would have a lot to talk about if they could get a translator!
GYSC - thanks for sharing the story about your mother. Sounds like she worked really hard to give you guys a better life. Thanks.
Leesa - Thanks. My mom is really anxious to meet you some day, I guess she's heard good things!
Ksam - thanks, it is definitely true that a support system, whether it's the family you're born into or the family you choose, is essential.
Animesh - thanks.
Mir-- Awww.. That's sweet! I'd LOVE to meet her one day, too! Hmmmm.. let's see now... Did you tell her that I'm your "other" mom.. .hehehe! Well, according to Rueven and that I had you when I was only around 18~~ So, hopefully, you shared the HDG and the beggar guy (your bff) stories in Budapest and also Vienne.. : )
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