I've already posted in a couple of threads about my mom's hosptialization, and likely diagnosis with lung cancer. As it was suggested to me that I start a blog instead of many threads in the forum about this, I will do so.
My mom is the most wonderful, sweet woman in the world. She has always loved me, unconditionally, and protected me, from my emotionally abusive father and his family.
So many memories come to mind. Mom picking me up at school during the years between elementary and high school in Connecticut, before I got my driver's license. Trips to Florida with mom to visit my now late darling grandmother and grandfather. Times with mom during the ten years we lived in Fort Lee, NJ, where we spent holidays with my grandmother and aunts. My 21st birthday, when mom rented a limo and a hotel room for 3 days, and really stretched herself financially, so her son would have a wonderful 21st bday in Atlantic City. The time I took mom to Paradise Island for her 50th bday, and paid for the whole trip, airfare and all, just because I love her.
Then, of course we also had the tragic times. Court battles and threats on our lives, financially and physcially, from my father, and a situation with a client of my father's where all of our lives were in danger financially. We would get lawsuits, financial threats from the client, and from my father, threatening to take everything we had. Mom and I faced it, and battled it all. Early on, when my father stopped paying alimony, mom sold off her cherished mementos, so her Mitch and her could survive. She never complained, once. As long as we had a roof, food on the table, and each other, mom faced it all.
In 1999, a move to a new city, Lancaster, where we had never lived before. We knew only one person, my best friend, Russell, from our days when we all lived in Connecticut. Looking for and finding an apartment with mom, and settling into our new home, and new life, joyously, at first.
We also had some personal tragic times. The passing of my grandmother in 1995, where we went to the hospital together, every day, for three weeks, between the time my grandmother was hospitalized on April 23, and her passing on the early morning of May 12. Estrangements from my father, more than one. Mom's cancer scare in 2003, when I took her to Lancaster General in the middle of the night, an Xray revealed she had spots on her lungs, and she walked out of the hospital, and, at age 65, gave up smoking after 50 years.
Attempted business and failed dreams with mom. We were indepdent sales reps for companies selling informational and motivational tapes through the mail in the 1990s, to no avail, when mom invested all her money from a small sale of jewelry to try and build a dream. Our hard work, dedication and heartbreak, when our unfranchise business, Market America, that we worked so dilligently on, from 2001 to 2004, failed.
Mitch's difficult and scary times. When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2005, mom was right there with me, holding my hand, listening to the DR, and to Mitch's concern about the wake up call with his health.
When Mitch needed money because he didn't make enough, mom never complained. She gave, and gave, and gave, and rarely if ever asked for any of it back. When Mitch was slightly financially advantaged from 2000 to 2004, Mitch helped mom, because, that's what people who love each other do. We always have each other's backs.
If someone attacked Mitch, and treated him wrong, mom was always the support, defending me, even if it was her own family who did so.
For 40 years, I have lived, and been uncondtionally emotionally supported, and sometimes financially, supported by mom. I have always thanked her from the bottom of my heart. My mom is one of the best moms ever. When I sometimes say to her that I wonder what I did to be deservant of such devotion, she replies "You've been a wonderful son to me, Mitchell. You're loyal, kind, loving, and never turned your back on me, even if your father wanted me to. You deserve every bit of love, time, and effort I've given you".
Now, it seems my mom is facing the biggest fight of her life, with this week's revelation that she likely has lung cancer. We are both devestated. Mom says the thought of leaving me is too much to bear, and contemplating life without mom is heartbreaking. I know this, as horrible as the recent developments with mom's health are, I will be there for her. I will take her to treatments, and support her 100% of the way, regardless of the outcome.
Mom, I love you to the ends of the earth and back. I am so blessed to have a mother like you. You are warm, kind, loving and one of the most decent people I know. I hope and pray that you can fight hard, and beat what is now likely coming our way. You have always been there for me, and now, it's my turn. I will always be here for you, no matter what.
Your loving son always,
Mitch
My mom is the most wonderful, sweet woman in the world. She has always loved me, unconditionally, and protected me, from my emotionally abusive father and his family.
So many memories come to mind. Mom picking me up at school during the years between elementary and high school in Connecticut, before I got my driver's license. Trips to Florida with mom to visit my now late darling grandmother and grandfather. Times with mom during the ten years we lived in Fort Lee, NJ, where we spent holidays with my grandmother and aunts. My 21st birthday, when mom rented a limo and a hotel room for 3 days, and really stretched herself financially, so her son would have a wonderful 21st bday in Atlantic City. The time I took mom to Paradise Island for her 50th bday, and paid for the whole trip, airfare and all, just because I love her.
Then, of course we also had the tragic times. Court battles and threats on our lives, financially and physcially, from my father, and a situation with a client of my father's where all of our lives were in danger financially. We would get lawsuits, financial threats from the client, and from my father, threatening to take everything we had. Mom and I faced it, and battled it all. Early on, when my father stopped paying alimony, mom sold off her cherished mementos, so her Mitch and her could survive. She never complained, once. As long as we had a roof, food on the table, and each other, mom faced it all.
In 1999, a move to a new city, Lancaster, where we had never lived before. We knew only one person, my best friend, Russell, from our days when we all lived in Connecticut. Looking for and finding an apartment with mom, and settling into our new home, and new life, joyously, at first.
We also had some personal tragic times. The passing of my grandmother in 1995, where we went to the hospital together, every day, for three weeks, between the time my grandmother was hospitalized on April 23, and her passing on the early morning of May 12. Estrangements from my father, more than one. Mom's cancer scare in 2003, when I took her to Lancaster General in the middle of the night, an Xray revealed she had spots on her lungs, and she walked out of the hospital, and, at age 65, gave up smoking after 50 years.
Attempted business and failed dreams with mom. We were indepdent sales reps for companies selling informational and motivational tapes through the mail in the 1990s, to no avail, when mom invested all her money from a small sale of jewelry to try and build a dream. Our hard work, dedication and heartbreak, when our unfranchise business, Market America, that we worked so dilligently on, from 2001 to 2004, failed.
Mitch's difficult and scary times. When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2005, mom was right there with me, holding my hand, listening to the DR, and to Mitch's concern about the wake up call with his health.
When Mitch needed money because he didn't make enough, mom never complained. She gave, and gave, and gave, and rarely if ever asked for any of it back. When Mitch was slightly financially advantaged from 2000 to 2004, Mitch helped mom, because, that's what people who love each other do. We always have each other's backs.
If someone attacked Mitch, and treated him wrong, mom was always the support, defending me, even if it was her own family who did so.
For 40 years, I have lived, and been uncondtionally emotionally supported, and sometimes financially, supported by mom. I have always thanked her from the bottom of my heart. My mom is one of the best moms ever. When I sometimes say to her that I wonder what I did to be deservant of such devotion, she replies "You've been a wonderful son to me, Mitchell. You're loyal, kind, loving, and never turned your back on me, even if your father wanted me to. You deserve every bit of love, time, and effort I've given you".
Now, it seems my mom is facing the biggest fight of her life, with this week's revelation that she likely has lung cancer. We are both devestated. Mom says the thought of leaving me is too much to bear, and contemplating life without mom is heartbreaking. I know this, as horrible as the recent developments with mom's health are, I will be there for her. I will take her to treatments, and support her 100% of the way, regardless of the outcome.
Mom, I love you to the ends of the earth and back. I am so blessed to have a mother like you. You are warm, kind, loving and one of the most decent people I know. I hope and pray that you can fight hard, and beat what is now likely coming our way. You have always been there for me, and now, it's my turn. I will always be here for you, no matter what.
Your loving son always,
Mitch
