Perspective

What a difference a year makes on my perspective of Mother's Day.

A year ago I received one of those phone calls that throws a physical punch to the gut: my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer, just a couple of months after the unexpected passing of her own mom. The following weeks were some of the darkest of my life as we waited to find out which form she had, how far it had spread, what her treatment options were, etc. Bella's fur and Walker's chest caught a multitude of tears during that time (and this from someone who prior to this averaged maybe two crying episodes a year). My experience and knowledge of cancer gleaned through medical school was both a blessing and a curse. We clung to prayer, family, an incredibly solid foundation of friends, and consistently reminding ourselves that none of us were promised tomorrow. My senior quote from high school was Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I have full faith that God etched that verse in my heart so long ago to get me through those difficult months. 

Mom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and had multiple tumors in her breast, but through the divine plan and grace of God her cancer had not spread into her lymph nodes. Praise the Lord for the miracles he performs each and every day!

Over 15 hours of surgeries and 16 weeks of chemotherapy later and mom is now in clinical REMISSION. My heart swells with pride when I think of how she handled this past year. Even when her body was ravaged with surgery or the poisonous drugs it needed to kill the remaining cancer cells, her spirit never wavered. Surrounded by her family and precious friends, she fought like a champ, and this Mother's Day I celebrate her influence on my life more than ever.

In my three years of medical school I have encountered countless cancer patients in which remission just wasn't in the cards, and I know many of you reading this have experienced in the worst way the pain and toll that cancer takes in the lives of a loved one. Today I celebrate my mom's life, and praise God that at this time in her life His plan has her winning this battle. Love you mom!

Proverbs 31:28, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

On another Mother's Day note, I am truly blessed by the family I have married into. Walker's mom has been like family to me long before my wedding day, and happens to be one of my mom's closest friends and strongest supporters. She is a Proverbs 31 woman as well, and I hope one day she shares her secret to raising a son like my husband, as I would love nothing more than to have little mini-Walker's running around my house one day :)

Happy Mother's Day!