My mother, Janie, has been through so much in the past eight years, I think she’s forgotten what it’s like to be comfortable–let alone pampered.
In 2002, Janie was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy/hysterectomy, and several rounds of estrogen-destroying hormone treatments. She lost her sense of femininity—hormones, womb, and breasts—in one awful year. The years following that were full of fear about whether or not the cancer was coming back, as well as the huge adjustments in her daily life that she made as she struggled to deal with her new scars, her new appearance, and her new anxieties. My father tried to urge her to rest during this period, but she still insisted on working to my brother and I—who were just entering college (him) and finishing up high school (me)—financially as we went through our own life changes and transitions. She tried to be there for us emotionally, too, even though she was undergoing so much.
And then, just when her health seemed to be on an upswing in 2006, my father, to whom my mother had been happily married for over 25 years, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. For three years, my mother acted as his health advocate amidst complicated procedures, a mess of medical expenses, and even frustrating miscommunication between his doctors. She then carried the family through the sudden changes we had to make financially as his health declined—moving us into a smaller home pretty much single-handedly, since my father was so weak—and then took care of my dad through at-home hospice for several months. When he died in January of ’09, she didn’t allow the family to fall apart. She managed the family estate and returned to work, making sacrifices to help support me, her youngest, as I left college and began to embark on my own career path.
She lives as a widow now at 54. Her job these days involves helping women with breast cancer to “look normal—or at least as good as they can,” as she puts it, by fitting them with specialty wigs and prostheses. Every day, she grieves with women over their scars as they try to hide the damage. Every day, I think she opens up her own old wounds, but she knows that, as a survivor herself, there is no one who can understand the women who come to her for help any better. In spite of the pain, she puts her heart on the line every day to help others who are going through cancer. I can’t believe she does it—and I can’t imagine how she manages it, especially since she’s still grieving for my father and all the things she lost in her 25-year romance with him. He was her best friend.
She hasn’t had much time to take care of herself in the year following his death, and I think she’s forgotten what it’s like to be taken care of. Even though I’ve been living with her for the last ten months, she hasn’t ever relinquished her caretaker role to me, and she still takes on the heaviest burdens for herself. Grief has aged her prematurely—and I know that she would feel much more refreshed and confident and able to move on if she had the chance for some rejuvenating pampering she could never afford on her new budget.
Thanks for considering my mom, Janie, for this contest. Even if she doesn’t get your vote, I hope you’ll think of her in your prayers. Submitted by: Abbie
, I would love to marry her off to in her definition a “Godly hunk”), being a single mom, and having two teenage kids, she gets just about no help cooking and keeping the house in order. She also has a billion friends that are either in the hospital or come to her for help and support (at least five call a day).
) She is constantly running herself into the ground and more than once has overworked herself until the point where she is physically sick.
Janie is an inspiration to all women. Her daughter’s not bad either in her demonstration of compassion and love for her mother. A winning combination and one that gets my vote.
Janie gets my vote!
Janie has my vote!
I expect that there are many deserving women who would easily qualify for such a nice gesture as this, but based on the experience I have had, it is hard to imagine that anyone deserves it more…
Please consider making this special opportunity available to such a wonderful and deserving woman.
A mothers love is so far reaching! Janie is a true example of mothering in its finest form. She is truly a blessing to all of those she is around.
You have my vote. You deserve to win.
Janie and Abbie get my vote! Such a wonderfuly story of a loving family.
I honestly don’t know what to say. What a wonderful woman, and what awesome kids. I know Caleb personally and he’s one of the best. Janie, you have quite a legacy, and you’re an example of faith and human goodness. Thanks very much for that.
She def gets my vote
Janie is an amazing woman. I really admire her. She deserves the best in the world
Janie gets my vote!
Janie has my vote!
Janie has my vote!
Janie gets my vote. What a wonderful example of unselfish love and family support!
Janie has my vote as well.. what a warrior.
God bless your family, Abbie.
I vote for Janie!
I’m so moved by Janie’s compassion and her desire to give a sense of femininity
and optimism back to other women stricken by cancer. That she has continued to do so as a widow, who is still suffering from losing her beloved mate, marks her as a truly special woman, deserving of every little bit of pampering she can get. I’m also touched by her daughter’s devotion to her brave and spirited mother.
Janie and Abbie are wonderful! They always think of the little things to make me and everyone else feel better. I vote Janie!
Janie definitely has my vote!
God bless you richly Janie. May His love and peace rest on you with a Heavy Hand and fill you with His Spirit. I vote for you.
Janie has my vote!
janie has my vote!
Janie has my vote!
Janie gets my vote.
Janie’s got my vote!
Janie and Abbie get my vote!!
Janie definitely has my vote!
Janie has my vote!
What an inspiring story……Janie has my vote!!
Janie has my vote!
Janie has my vote!
Janie is an outstanding woman and mother. She definitely gets my vote.
Love you Janie! You deserve this!
Janie has my vote. I can’t imagine a more deserving candidate.
Janie gets my vote! This will be a great opportunity for her to start to recover from all her hardships. She’s definitely deserving!
I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this than Janie!
Janie has my vote!!!!
Janie definitely deserves this. She has my vote!
Thank God for Mother’s like Janie, she deserves it the most
Janie gets my vote!
Janie has my vote.
Cast my vote for Janie.
Janie is a wonderful woman. She definitely gets my vote !
Janie Gets my vote