Whether it was rushing from the office to make it to my basketball games, or getting us ready for school while running a brush through your own hair for your next 12-hour shift, one thing was always for certain: you were there. Other moms would give conspicuous side-glances towards you for being late to school functions, but they did not know that you were saving lives at the hospital merely an hour before. Teachers would ask me questions if you picked me up a mere five minutes later than usual, all to which I replied, “Superwoman isn’t off the clock yet, she’ll be here.” And every single time, you were.
No one will ever understand the sacrifices you made for us by being a full time career woman and full time mother. There were holidays that you had to miss because, “The hospital doesn’t close on Christmas, baby girl.” I did not understand at the time why you were going to be with the kids at the hospital over us. I would cry and beg you not to leave. But as I got older, I realized that the kids you “picked over me” were extremely sick, and that you were all that some of them had. I remember going to work with you a few times and seeing how your patients’ faces lit up with happiness whenever you walked into their room. You probably didn’t know this, but every time I visited you at work, your coworkers told me you were the best at your job and that everyone loved you and felt safe when you were working. You’ve been an angel in more lives than you will ever know.
I know it could not have been easy raising three young kids and working 12-hour night shifts, and Dad did a wonderful job filling the gaps when you couldn’t do it all, but I just want to say… thank you.
Thank you for instilling very early on that if you want something in this life, you have to work hard for it and earn it. Thank you for showing me that you can thrive from some of the worst circumstances possible. Thank you for paving the way and teaching me to be an independent woman who can take care of herself. Thank you for pushing me academically to be the best that I can be, but picking me up after every hard test. Thank you for teaching me that sometimes you have to put others before yourself, and showing me just how much of a blessing that can be. Thank you for showing me that it is possible to have a successful career and be a loving and nurturing mother. Thank you so much for your love and for your guidance, but most importantly, thank you for being the hardworking mom and inspirational woman that I hope I am lucky enough to become one day.
