I always pictured my mom in her late 80′s with white hair, spunky as ever and still in perfect health. She never had a sick day in her life, was active and energetic – until last year.
She arrived from Mexico for an anticipated 2 week vacation on June 30th, 2009. We planned her visit during the 4th of July, so we could take her on our boat in the Foster City lagoon and watch the fireworks. When I first looked at her, I knew something was not right. She told me that for 3 weeks she had “been tired and taking naps”. Mom never took naps- after an overnight hospital visit, we soon found out she had advanced metastasized liver cancer.
The morning of the 4th, I took her to the spa for a Massage and a Pedicure and for her to see the remodeled spas ( it was 6 years since she’d been to the United States) That morning, she had the opportunity to be a proud mom.
My family was waiting for us with a BBQ when we returned from spa-ing. That evening, 7 family members and I hopped on the boat to watch the magical fireworks-a perfect day.
Only 22 days later my two brothers, my sister and my daughter held her hands as we watched her take her last breath…
With moms unconditional love and examples, she taught me to take a place in this world and to blossom. She showed me how to work hard, laugh a lot and be optimistic. At the end, she also taught me to accept death with dignity and courage….
This will be my first Mother’s Day without my mom. Everything I am, I owe it to her!
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