The Warmth of Strangers

I present a reflection of my last months with my mother as I cared for her during her battle with breast cancer. A practicing internist, I made the decision to bring my mother from New Jersey to Georgia so that I could continue working and so that my husband and I would be able to continue caring for our 2 sons, who were ages 3 and 5 at the time. The following describes the warmth my mother felt and I witnessed in the office waiting room from other patients-strangers, ready to extend genuine Southern hospitality and love for my mother from the first appointment and how I cared for her during that time. Although this was a difficult time for my mother, it strangely was also a special time of bonding between us even though we were always close. I had the honor of caring for a woman who gave everything for her children and I had the chance to be there for her in a role reversal. As the second oldest of 4 daughters, I was always sharing my mother. I had the unique pleasure of having her all to myself and I treasured that.