Dear Mom,
We all know that dad's fight was courageous, and his service in the army will always be accounted for. We all know the hardships that he has faced, and will continue to face throughout the rest of his lifetime. But throughout the good and bad days, there is another hero that goes silently unnoticed. Someone who is there everyday and waivers the courage to face the same battle. That hero is you.
Throughout the years, you have raised my siblings and I wonderfully. Another selfless sacrifice that you have made in your life in order to put others needs before your own. In the midst of our childhoods, dads' illness started to slowly seep through. Agent Orange was a term we all became familiar with, and life as we knew it would never be the same. As dad continued to get worse, you always kept your cool. You stepped up to the plate and quickly took on the role of both parents. Rushing around five of us from school, to sports practice, to friends houses, you always made sure it got done. All of this while working various jobs just to keep a roof over our heads.
Dad has been struggling with these problems for about seventeen years now. For all seventeen years, you have made sure he gets the care he needs as well. You make sure he gets out of the house and continues his life as normally as possible. You make sure he always has a hot meal and that he is always surrounded with family and love. I know you would never complain about it, but a lot has been taken away from you. All of the retirement plans, the trips you wanted to take, and other things that you wanted to do now altered. The tacks have been left on the map, and the role of caretaker is now what you play. I know it is something that you would always be willing to do, because that is just the kind of person you are.
Between all the doctors appointments, medication adjustments, and daily struggles, you always manage to be there with support and care. You are his biggest advocate, fighting a constant battle with the government to get him the care he deserves. I always see you making phone calls, talking to so many people, and writing so many letters just to get your point across. I also see the nights of sleep that you don't get because you are helping calm a flashback from PTSD or a bout of chest pain. You will stop at nothing to make sure that justice is served, and that veterans like dad get the support they need.
Although the government can't always take responsibility and provide us with the things we need, others are there to help. The community has seen your resilience and the strength that you hold every day, and have given back to us in many ways. Accepting help from others is not something you can easily do, but they can see how hard you are working. Sometimes, you need to step back and take a break from what this life has thrown at you. You yourself are a human being too, and you deserve the care in return that you have given.
Thank you for supporting veterans. Thank you for sacrificing your freedom as well. Thank you for everything you have done, mom.
