May always conjures up the smell of springtime: flowers, the first time the grass is mowed, the scent of a million small tiny green blades dumped into green bags, and the freshness in the air after a warm rain. The fifth month is also the home to a special Sunday where we get to come together over a beautiful brunch or dinner. We may go out to one of our favorite restaurants, or in my case for all my life, back to the house where I grew up to share time with the lady who made everything, and so much more, possible for me.
I’m talking about Mother’s Day. All of us have an individually unique relationship with our mothers. Perhaps, then, my story runs parallel with the families the David Foster Foundation helps with non-medical costs. I was not born requiring a life-saving organ transplant. Rather, I was born with cerebral palsy, caused by a lack of oxygen at birth. Mothers of kids who need organ transplants — or of those who lack mobility like me — are not equipped with blueprints, manuals, or online webinars on how to raise a child with needs. The same, too, can be said about mothers of all kids.
Yet, having and raising children is perhaps the greatest test a mother will experience. Now: the journalistic task at this point would be to gather facts and figures from Mr. Google on moms with kids who need more attention. That might be helpful, I suppose. But a very wise man once laid a phrase on me which replays daily in my mental playlist: “There is no substitute for first-hand experience.” As I got older and heard stories about Mom — because Lord knows she would never tell them — I learned of her courage, her discipline, her sacrifice, her teaching and so much more, all on the comfortable foundation of love.
Six years ago, I wrote a piece — which I’ll add the link at the bottom of this page — about my friend Sylvia and her daughters Janelle and Stephanie. Sylvia was diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) — her immune system was destroying her small bile ducts.
She continued her daily duties of raising two girls with her husband Wally and working part-time at his dental practice. Things were fine, until 2010 when her health started to deteriorate. Doctors said Sylvia would, at some point, need a liver transplant. It was at this time that Janelle, now a nurse at the Mazankowski Heart Institute in Edmonton spoke to her husband about becoming a living donor.
Sylvia went on the transplant waiting list in October of 2017. Janelle made arrangements to start preparing herself. So did Sylvia. On the day when both Sylvia and Janelle were wheeled into the pre-operating room together, Sylvia was in awe. Even though Sylvia says the hardest thing she ever did was agree to let her daughter give her liver, it was a gift like no other.
I have been thinking about that story a lot over the past week. It’s a story that personifies family. Indeed, a touching Mother’s Day story. And, if it touched you or if you were inspired to do something – a call to action if you will – then pay it forward, as they say. And it just so happens that I have an idea.
Consider registering your wishes to be an organ donor. You have the wonderful opportunity of giving another mother who needs a miracle when they need it the most the makings of another remarkable Mother’s Day story.
https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/columnists/tait-a-life-saving-mothers-day-gift
