My mom.

She was diagnosed with brain cancer when I was second grade.

The next year my dad left her.

She started a business to look after me and my older sister.

It was on the side of her job as a Chemistry teacher.

She owned a small spot in the town’s market, selling winter socks.

She couldn’t afford to hire a salesperson, so she did it herself.

During the winters she got chilblains on her hands.

But she never gave up.

She had 3 brain surgeries.

The doctors gave her 5 years.

She lived 25.

25 years of full quality life.

She never gave up.

She had beaten the disease.

She always found a way.

With a smile.

That’s my mom!

People ask me where I get that stubbornness to never give up.

I got it from her.

This is the last picture I took of her. It was in 2016.

The next year the disease came back. Fast.

She passed away with a smile on her face.

She had made it one last time.

Today she would have turned 65.

It’s her birthday.

I love you, mom.

Forever.