Today is a special day. It recognizes the special woman in
our life who has been there to love us with all she has and hold our hand
through all of our messes.
Today I want to recognize my mother, Sandra Swartzendruber.
My mother is an amazing woman, someone I look up to very much. Not only did she
deal with me when I was an unruly teenager, but over the years has become one
of my very best friends. She gives words of wisdom when I need them and lets me
fall on my face when she knows I won’t fall too far. People say that I am a
spitting image of my mother and I could not be happier to look like her. My
mother though is an inspiration to me far beyond just being my mother.
Around 14 years ago it was discovered that my mother had a
tumor inside and wrapped around her spinal cord. She went into surgery, my dad
a nervous wreck in the waiting room, and came out about eight hours later. A
few days later, my mother walked out of the hospital. She was understandably
sore and had to go through a lot of physical therapy, but eventually was able
to be her normal self, water-skiing and playing softball and all! Two years ago
though, this was not the case.
They discovered that the tumor had grown and was in a very
dangerous stage. Her and my father flew out to Minnesota to have an emergency
surgery soon after. This time though, she did not walk out. Unfortunately,
being a very dangerous surgery, there were complications and the surgeon nicked
her spinal cord, rendering her paralyzed.
Months of physical therapy, a positive spirit, and friends and family truly
coming through for my mother, today, two years later, she is truly an
inspiration. My mother went from a wheel chair to a walker to a cane. She still
has complications from complications with her spinal cord, including a lot of
discomfort in her legs, but the improvements have been amazing. Through it all,
my mother has kept her spirits high and her attitude positive. With the drugs
she was on for pain and the relaxing of her muscles, almost all people taking
it would stop working. However, my strong willed mother was determined and went
back to work shortly after and is still working hard to this day.
day make a full recovery. No matter what though, she has taught me
valuable
lessons. No matter what life throws at you stay positive and stay
strong.
Being on the race I have not seen her in almost a year, a
very hard year to be away from your Mom. I could not be more proud of the woman
she is.
I love you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day!! See you soon!!
