Let me start out with this: My mom is one of the strongest people I know. When I was in fourth grade, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. That year was when my mom changed a little. I remembered when she first told me, we were sitting in the car in the driveway. I was so scared, and I asked her if she was going to die. She promised me she would not and that she will always fight, and that is exactly what she has done. She underwent chemotherapy, and it changed her. She used to always be active and did not get sick much. Ever since she was diagnosed with cancer, she gets sick so easily due to her immune system not being the greatest. She has had to deal with chemo and her hair falling out multiple times. She has had to deal with the pain and suffering due to these and the pain from the cancer. She gets tired quicker than she used to as well. Her body is not the same anymore. She is more fragile, and her body hurts due to the chemo. She is and will always be a fighter.
Her cancer has been very hard on me as well. Going with her to doctors' appointments, being there when she is crying because her hair is falling out, holding her hand when she is in pain, hospital visits, and so much more. It is hard for me to see her suffer as much as she does. I am awful at coping with stuff, so I prefer not knowing what is going on. I get so scared when she goes to the doctor and when she says, “We need to talk,” or “I did not get good news." Those sentences set me back and automatically worry and scare me.
No matter what, my mom has always been there for me. She has put off her own health for me before. She has always dropped whatever she was doing when I have needed her. She has changed doctors’ appointments around just to be there for me. She struggles some days to get out of bed, but she still gets up for me. It is hard when people do not understand what the family goes through when someone is going through chemo. The whole family is involved because depending on the chemo, someone can continue their daily routine and life, or they may not be able to get out of bed for weeks. Everyone is affected differently depending on what the treatment is. But every single person who has to go through it is changed just a little.
Here is the thing though, her cancer did change her. It changed her by making her a stronger person. She always puts up a fight and tries. She may say she is over it or wants to quit, but she never stops trying. She has taught me to be thankful for everything God throws at us. She has taught me to always fight no matter what. Thank you mom for always fighting and never giving up. Thank you for always looking out for me and being the best mom that you could ever be. I love you, and I am thankful for everything that you do for me.
