Mom,

You have birthed me, changed my diapers, taught me everything I needed to know as I was growing up. You molded me into the woman I have become and I thank you for that. But as I grew older and into my late teens, there became a time when I had to take care of you, when you started to get sick and the first hospitalization came and no one knew what to do.

You and I were not close; we were estranged and didn’t know how to act as mother and daughter. But after that day, we rebuilt our relationship. Although after that day you only got worse, I’m thankful for the fact that we only got closer as time went on. After every hospitalization that lasted a few weeks, we were hopeful. Even through the daily trips back and forth to the hospital, the hospital food, the over-amounting stress of not knowing what was wrong with you, we stayed hopeful that you would pull through.

Every time you did, no matter what put you in there, nothing could take you away it seems. You were a fighter and we were happy, but it took an emotional toll on all of us, even you. You fell into a deep depression, you were still sick, we all had to take care of you. None of us minded; we were just happy to have you alive. Now, a few years later, I look back on all of those days and I am happy that you are still here with us. You truly taught me everything I needed to know.

You are my best friend and we took care of each other, and you are one step closer to finding the answer to what is causing your sickness. Most of all, you taught me to keep fighting no matter what, like you did throughout all these years. You kept fighting to stay alive to watch me graduate, to watch your grandchild (my niece) be born, to see me go off to college, and hopefully to see me get married, and graduate college. I love you Mother.