My mother is a champion – strong and determined. What I discovered only recently, however, is just how much courage she really does have to her credit. This I realised when she was suddenly faced with the greatest challenge of her entire life...
It was 6th September 2000 – a day that will always be imprinted on my mind. My mother was unusually quiet that morning, when we left for school. I had the strangest feeling, almost like a premonition, that there was something wrong in our home.
Could I be mistaken?
We have always been a close, well – adjusted family in which we regard my mother as the centre of our lives. I realised that my father was not himself either. He seemed troubled, somehow, as thought he was carrying a weight on his shoulders that he was not sharing with me. I knew that he adored my mother – why then, did I sense a tension earlier on at the breakfast table? A few minutes later, we were at school and I decided that perhaps I was reading too much into the situation and put these concerns out of my mind.
That afternoon I found out that my instincts were correct. My mother looked pale and I sensed that she was wrestling with something deep and serious. I even thought that she had been crying but could not be absolutely sure. I was about to find out – my mom called me to the lounge and by the expression of her face, I realised that she wanted me to be strong.
Her face was sad and her voice as shaky. I could see she was doing her best to stay in control. For a moment she stared out of the window as though searching for the right words and when they came, it was like a bolt of lightning – she had discovered a lump in her breast and was now waiting for the pathologist’s report on which so much depended. The nauseating reality began to dawn on me – my mother, who was the most precious person in the world, could have cancer!
I looked at her with disbelief. Alarmed at my shocked reaction, she tried to reassure me that nothing had been determined yet but it was necessary that being the eldest, I would have to be prepared to take the responsibility in her absence just in case she required immediate surgery. At that point I could no longer fight back my fear and sobbed uncontrollably. I remember that my mother was consoling me but it should have been the other way around.
The next day was the longest day I have ever experienced at school. The uncertainty had turned my stomach into a knot finally, the bell rang and as usual, my mom had come to collect me. I could no longer contain my fears. I demanded to know the results of the tests. My bluntness startled her, but she understood. Quietly she confirmed that she did indeed have the ‘dreaded disease” I felt sick with shock but my mom stayed calm and in control. At that moment I felt enormous admiration for her spirit and courage.
A year and a half has passed since that daunting day. It is said that you only really appreciate what you have when you face the possibility of losing someone close to you. I see my mother differently now – we have grown closer as a family and I believe that we appreciate her far more than we did before. She went through a great deal of discomfort during her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments and although it made her very ill, she never complained or stopped being our mom.
Thankfully, my mother has survived this threat on her life although she will always have to be on the alert. For this reason she still continues with Aredia therapy although her condition stabilised. All of this she accepts bravely and is grateful to be given a second chance. In fact, we have all learned from my mom’s experience to regard life as a special gift, never to be taken for granted.
For anyone who thinks there is no hope in the world and that giving up is the only option in the face of a crisis, my mother is living proof that faith, courage and humour can overcome any obstacles.
This is my mother – I am so proud of her.
Basil Charalambous
March 2002
Could I be mistaken?
We have always been a close, well – adjusted family in which we regard my mother as the centre of our lives. I realised that my father was not himself either. He seemed troubled, somehow, as thought he was carrying a weight on his shoulders that he was not sharing with me. I knew that he adored my mother – why then, did I sense a tension earlier on at the breakfast table? A few minutes later, we were at school and I decided that perhaps I was reading too much into the situation and put these concerns out of my mind.
That afternoon I found out that my instincts were correct. My mother looked pale and I sensed that she was wrestling with something deep and serious. I even thought that she had been crying but could not be absolutely sure. I was about to find out – my mom called me to the lounge and by the expression of her face, I realised that she wanted me to be strong.
Her face was sad and her voice as shaky. I could see she was doing her best to stay in control. For a moment she stared out of the window as though searching for the right words and when they came, it was like a bolt of lightning – she had discovered a lump in her breast and was now waiting for the pathologist’s report on which so much depended. The nauseating reality began to dawn on me – my mother, who was the most precious person in the world, could have cancer!
I looked at her with disbelief. Alarmed at my shocked reaction, she tried to reassure me that nothing had been determined yet but it was necessary that being the eldest, I would have to be prepared to take the responsibility in her absence just in case she required immediate surgery. At that point I could no longer fight back my fear and sobbed uncontrollably. I remember that my mother was consoling me but it should have been the other way around.
The next day was the longest day I have ever experienced at school. The uncertainty had turned my stomach into a knot finally, the bell rang and as usual, my mom had come to collect me. I could no longer contain my fears. I demanded to know the results of the tests. My bluntness startled her, but she understood. Quietly she confirmed that she did indeed have the ‘dreaded disease” I felt sick with shock but my mom stayed calm and in control. At that moment I felt enormous admiration for her spirit and courage.
A year and a half has passed since that daunting day. It is said that you only really appreciate what you have when you face the possibility of losing someone close to you. I see my mother differently now – we have grown closer as a family and I believe that we appreciate her far more than we did before. She went through a great deal of discomfort during her chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments and although it made her very ill, she never complained or stopped being our mom.
Thankfully, my mother has survived this threat on her life although she will always have to be on the alert. For this reason she still continues with Aredia therapy although her condition stabilised. All of this she accepts bravely and is grateful to be given a second chance. In fact, we have all learned from my mom’s experience to regard life as a special gift, never to be taken for granted.
For anyone who thinks there is no hope in the world and that giving up is the only option in the face of a crisis, my mother is living proof that faith, courage and humour can overcome any obstacles.
This is my mother – I am so proud of her.
Basil Charalambous
March 2002
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