Compassion
Talking with my mom today, I was reminded (once again) of where I get my compassion.
I was sharing with Mom how one of the kids I cared for when he first relapsed and again a couple weeks ago, had passed away this past Wednesday.
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This led into a discussion of how my mom has a neighbor with a son (in his 40s) who is developmentally disabled. The mom has had many health issues, and the son knows my mom from meeting many times. My mom told me how he has stopped by to say hi while his mom is asleep, and hangs out for 3 or 4 hours, just talking and watching TV. Recently his mom has gotten ill and my mom is one of the people who has offered to drive him to the hospital to see his mom.
Which then led me to the story of a patient we have at the hospital now. He's 18, and after relapsing late last year was told there was nothing else that could be done for him. So he was being cared for by George Marks (the pediatric hospice that closed for the summer due to financial reasons). He has been with us for a few months now - and each week we are all still surprised he is still with us. This past week we found out what is keeping him going - he wants to hang on for Mother's Day. Knowing all his mom has done for him, we all understand - we would do the same. But he has gone beyond this - he secretly planned a gift and a dinner with lots of flowers for his mom today.
Sharing that with my mom had me (and her) in tears on the phone. And I had yet to get teary over the situation. Something about a son hanging on for his mom, and making sure she was surrounded by love, hit me hard.
And it only did because of my mom and my relationship with her - I am the man I am because of her - the compassion, the caring for kids, the need to care for others, all come from her. And I can never do enough to thank her. But I can help take care of her, like she did for me and my younger brother for so many years.
Thanks Mom, for all that I am - I love you!!
I was sharing with Mom how one of the kids I cared for when he first relapsed and again a couple weeks ago, had passed away this past Wednesday.
n
This led into a discussion of how my mom has a neighbor with a son (in his 40s) who is developmentally disabled. The mom has had many health issues, and the son knows my mom from meeting many times. My mom told me how he has stopped by to say hi while his mom is asleep, and hangs out for 3 or 4 hours, just talking and watching TV. Recently his mom has gotten ill and my mom is one of the people who has offered to drive him to the hospital to see his mom.
Which then led me to the story of a patient we have at the hospital now. He's 18, and after relapsing late last year was told there was nothing else that could be done for him. So he was being cared for by George Marks (the pediatric hospice that closed for the summer due to financial reasons). He has been with us for a few months now - and each week we are all still surprised he is still with us. This past week we found out what is keeping him going - he wants to hang on for Mother's Day. Knowing all his mom has done for him, we all understand - we would do the same. But he has gone beyond this - he secretly planned a gift and a dinner with lots of flowers for his mom today.
Sharing that with my mom had me (and her) in tears on the phone. And I had yet to get teary over the situation. Something about a son hanging on for his mom, and making sure she was surrounded by love, hit me hard.
And it only did because of my mom and my relationship with her - I am the man I am because of her - the compassion, the caring for kids, the need to care for others, all come from her. And I can never do enough to thank her. But I can help take care of her, like she did for me and my younger brother for so many years.
Thanks Mom, for all that I am - I love you!!