By: Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah

It’s easy to take some things for granted, like the health of your family members. This is especially true of parents, who, to their children, seem to have an air of invincibility about them. In their infinite wisdom and care, they seem immortal—at least, that’s how my parents felt to me while I was younger than I am now. And then, slowly, over the course of months, that illusion came crashing down around me and my family. Far too early, given her age, I was forced to contend with the mortality of my mother—my rock, the woman I love who seems infinitely energetic, and a woman who is amorous to the point where it is almost overwhelming. She carted me around to my various extracurricular activities—she tolerated my incessant flow of questions, and she always took care of me in the most loving way. My mother, my world. Seeing her in a hospital bed, hardly able to recognize me, and contending with the thought of losing her was almost too much to bear; seeing her in that setting made me realize that as much as it may have seemed to me, she is not immortal.

No, she is not immortal, but what she is, is a fighter. I think her recovery can be attributed in part to God and (largely) in part to the amazing fortitude she possesses. She is smart, insightful, and analytical in ways I can only hope I will someday be. She loves, deeply. She inspires me every single day to be the best version of myself: to treat others with compassion and grace—to support the ones I care about however I can—to love, fiercely and without abandon. She fought the illnesses that held her down and came out triumphant. She still fights now, and my family fights along her, trying to give the depth of support she always gives to the rest of us. She gave me her fighting spirit, and the world. So here’s to you, mom—thank you for being the warm, gracious, and loving person that you are. Thank you for being yourself, unabashedly—thank you for your passion for people, the care with which you cook, and the love that underlies every interaction you have with everyone who encounters you. You are a miracle of a person, and I love you dearly!

 

Love,

Sunshine