Gratitude Amidst Adversity

My mother is the strongest woman I know. She has always persevered and worked hard through any difficulty she has faced in life.

This past March, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her diagnosis came as a complete shock, as she had no risk factors. She eats a healthy vegetarian diet, stays active through hiking, and has never smoked or drank. We never thought cancer would impact our family because we have always lived such a healthy lifestyle. We were completely mystified and dismayed. But, as many have learned before, cancer does not always have a clear or known cause.

The timeline of my mom’s treatment aligned with the increasing severity of the coronavirus pandemic. This ongoing Covid-19 crisis added another layer of stress to her diagnosis and treatment. Hospitals were cancelling surgeries, and she worried hers would be pushed back. She was also afraid to enter the hospital, for fear of contracting the virus and further delaying her treatment.

However, the virus brought us all home. Shortly before her surgery, my college closed due to the pandemic. My sister moved back from Portland, and my parents were both advised to work from home. Together we navigated the uncertainties we were facing as a family and as a nation.

At times my mom was saddened, exhausted, and fearful of the future. Other times she simply needed encouragement and comfort. Since we were all living together, we were there for her throughout her treatment when she needed love and support the most. When we were all feeling afraid and upset about my mother’s health, my father was able to assure us that she was doing well and healing every day.

I believe a strong component of my mom’s healing journey was that she developed a perspective of gratitude. I was amazed when she told me all she was grateful for concerning this heartbreaking diagnosis. She was grateful that she had this type of cancer and not a more severe form. She was grateful for the doctors who caught it early and performed the surgery. She was grateful for the nurses who treated her with radiation each week. She was grateful for the timing of her diagnosis, as we were at home together to support her throughout her treatment. She was also grateful for the overwhelming support she received from family, friends, and colleagues. When faced with such a discouraging adversity as cancer, she showed the power in reframing the situation with a positive mindset.

“I was inspired by other women’s stories, and hearing that they got through it gave me the courage to believe I could move through it, too,” my mom says. “This is what allowed me to stay positive and move forward through the process.

This time with her has been extremely challenging. It shows how precious one’s health is, and that we who are healthy should all be thankful every day for our health. It has also shown me how my mom’s strength and perseverance withstood all challenges, as she is still able to smile, laugh, and be grateful. The love that surrounds her overpowers the diagnosis, and my mom hopes that her story can inspire resilience and gratitude for others with this unfortunate diagnosis.

Published In The July 2020 Issue of Maine Women Magazine (Page 29)

Read more about my mom’s story: Survivor Stories: Emma & Rebecca’s Mother-Daughter Journey (P.volve blog)