My Mom
I remember in the first grade when I knew my mom was having another heart surgery. I became very scared because there was a chance that she would not survive. My mom, being the amazing person that she is, fought through it and returned to, for the most part, a normal life. I can still remember the many trips to the doctor’s office and everything she had to endure and go through.
Since then, things have been pretty normal until a couple of months ago when her heart rate was exceedingly high and she had to be admitted to the hospital. I thought everything was going to be okay until she went into cardiac arrest.
I knew inside my heart that she was going to make it because she is the strongest person I know and she made it through the first one. It does scare me to know that my mom is different from other moms because she has gone through a lot medically. But I just knew inside my heart that my mom would come out a stronger woman and I am so lucky to have her here today and to celebrate Mother’s Day with.
When things like this happen, all I can do is be there for my mom and to help her through her recovery and it’s a process that I am grateful I can do. Also, I still live my normal life and eat healthy, hang out with my friends, and I am always cycling – which is my passion. I do it everyday and I know that through my workouts and healthy eating habits, I can be free from cardiovascular disease.
So, the message I would like to share with people my age is to be thankful for everything that your mother does for you. Cardiovascular disease can happen to anyone. My mother got it and she leads one of the healthiest lives of anyone I know.
Also, Mother’s Day means giving back to our mothers. I am giving back to my mom this year by doing simple things for her such as doing well in school, staying active, sharing with her my thoughts and girl problems and always being there for her because she does everything for me and every day should be Mother’s Day.
My mom is a truly remarkable woman, she is my role model and without her, I would not be here today.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the world!
~David
Thanks for sharing your story, David.
By: Melanie on May 8, 2008
at 4:50 pm
Wow! From another mom with heart problems…what a beautiful tribute from and very loving and perceptive son–any mother would be thrilled to have been blessed with him as their child! This is the time to start taking care of your heart–as a young person!
By: Kim Shockley on May 8, 2008
at 4:57 pm
This is the sweetest story ever, thanks so much for sharing.
I have severe rheumatic heart disease with valve and arrythmia problems. I didn’t know that I had structural problems until I was pregnant with my daughter and also didn’t make it. She is my blessing and I love her to pieces! She’s 11 now and I know it’s scary for her to have a mother that has a chronic progressive health problem, so your story was very reassuring.
Hmmm, I suddenly think we need to have sons and daughters days!
By: Ann Tracy on May 8, 2008
at 5:14 pm
David
Thank u very much for sharing this all of us.
Sometime we don’t think about not having our mothers or fathers with us. We have really
enjoy them as long as we can and help them
as they helped us. Again David thanks
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR MOM
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO HER
SALLY GARCIA
By: SALLY GARCIA on May 8, 2008
at 6:42 pm
YOU ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL SON..GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR MOTHER!!
By: CANDICE on May 8, 2008
at 6:56 pm
David – You are an awesome son! – your mother is lucky to have you in her life. Hope life continues to bless you both!
By: AmyLou on May 8, 2008
at 7:00 pm
I wish all children to have a happy Mother’s Day with their mom. I lost my mom when I was 40 and she was 58 due to coronary artery disease. Every day I miss her. The night before I was to have open-heart bypass surgery, I prayed for my mother to intercede with the Mary the Mother of Jesus to pray for me. I survived and within three weeks I felt better than I had in about five years–that was eight and a half years ago at age 48.
A few years ago in February I sent all my friends and most of my coworkers a double Red Dress pin set, one for them and one for their mothers.
I hope all women become knowledgeable of the facts of heart disease and that IT is the No. 1 killer of mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts. I hope they are never be afraid of being embarrassed to go to a doctor, and if they have doubts, never take the opinion of a doctor who, without testing, tells you that you are too young to have heart disease, which is what a cardiologist told me 18 months before surgery.
God Bless all Mothers and their Children
Nanci from Alaska
By: Nanci on May 8, 2008
at 7:15 pm
David
You are an angel. Your mom is blessed to have such a loving and supporting son. Much love to you and your family
Aloha
By: Betsy on May 8, 2008
at 7:45 pm
Hi, Thank you for your story David. I also had a double by-pass 5 years ago. I was 56 years old and I was told by everyone that I was too young to have cardiovascular disease. Every 6 month I go to my cardiologist I see younger men and women visiting the heart doctors.
Happy Mothers Day to all!
Nati from Tucson, AZ
By: Natividad Breed on May 8, 2008
at 10:06 pm
David You are one in a million. You can tell that your mother is precious to you. I had a heart attack 1 year ago Feb, 16th. I feel great now, no surgery, I excercise and now eat healthy. I plan on being around for a long, long time. I am 54 going on 34, (got to be real here). Anyway you tell your mother happy mothers day for me. And I wish her 100 more mothers days to come. She couldn’t of asked for a better son. God Bless and take care.
By: Bonnie King on May 8, 2008
at 10:14 pm
Although, I don’t have heart disease, I have known and been touched by friends. I have done a lot of reasearch and truly believe that heart disease can be prevent OR even reversed through diet, exercise and good nutrition. Please visit my website to learn more. Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms out there and God Bless. Patricia from Mesa, AZ.
By: Patricia Woodrum on May 8, 2008
at 10:51 pm
I am a mother who lost her 22 year old son and this time of year he always made me feel so special. I miss that very much. My son was electrocuted and they say his heart was effected. To honor him I have for the past 8 years walked in the heart walk in his memory. I have often wondered how one can survive with half a heart but you can. I am blessed with another son, 2 granddaughters, husband, daughter-in-law. My son and I had a very special relationship one I always treasured and still do. I tell myself he is with me in spirit on mother’s day and I feel he is but it’s just not the same.
For all you mother’s out there that may not at the moment have a relationship with your children don’t wait. Your life and who you are can change with the blink of an eye.
By: roberta Menteer on May 9, 2008
at 3:59 am
Hi David:
David bless you for being a son a mother can truly brag about and love. I have been blessed with a son just like you. I have been through 20 surgerys in my 66 years but have needed heart surgery. My son has been there for most all of them. He is constantly doing for me and he brings me flowers and tells me their just because I love you. So I’m sending best wishes and lots of love to you and your MOM. Please let your mom I’m sending Mother’s Day wishes also. take care now and may God be with you both. Mary from Chandler, AZ.
By: Mary Hall on May 9, 2008
at 4:34 am
David,
I KNOW your mom is just as proud of you as you are of her. You are both VERY lucky to have such an amazing relationship and quite mature to have such a grasp of life at your young age.
Becky & Kara
By: Becky Bausch on May 9, 2008
at 4:56 am
Thanks David for your heart warming letter. Although you “still live your normal life and eat healthy, hang out with your friends, and are always cycling “, you aren’t necessarily free from cardiovascular disease. One of the risk factors (and a big one) is genetic. I had 6 bypasses almost 12 years ago and constantly urge my kids to get checked up with a doctor familiar with the disease.
God bless you David, and your mom too. Tell her as often as you can how much you love her and appreciate her. Some of us are unable to do that any more!
By: Dennis on May 9, 2008
at 5:03 pm
David, Your words were beautiful, heartfelt and inspiring. You are so lucky to have each other and I am lucky to have you two too. xoxox Happy Mother’s Day!!!
By: Laurel on May 9, 2008
at 5:13 pm
David thank you so much for sharing. I lost two
brothers and a sister all within 2 yrs to heart attacks, I take extra precautin’s to protect myself agains’t this desease, I had a stress test a
year ago and was told by the cardioligist that i have the heart of a nineteen year old.Iam 68.
Iam so very happy that you and you’r Mother are sharing a wonderfull full life together, God Bless
both of you, and i just know you’r Mother will be
celebrating many more ” Happy MOTHER’S dAY’S
All the very best to both of you!
By: dorothylopesdias on May 9, 2008
at 10:41 pm
David,
Thank you for sharing your story, you and your Mom are being blessed by God by caring for each other.
Happy Mother’s Day to your Mom and to you for being a great son.
By: Carmen on May 10, 2008
at 2:20 am
David, The words of one so young, not only a son, are very empowering. We all need to check ourselves and be grateful every day at least once.My own experience with having a loved one having had a heart attack keeps me grounded and grateful for every day my husband smiles at me. GOD Bless you and your Mom this Mother’s Day and always.
By: Providenza Simpson on May 10, 2008
at 8:53 pm
David, I always knew you would grow up to be a remarkable person, because you’ve been raised by the most remarkable mother ever! I’m glad you are wise enough to know how to cherish your mama. She deserves every bit of it. Girl problems? The only girl problem you have is that you haven’t taken my daughter out on a date! Keep taking care of your mama. I’m proud of you both.
By: Kari on May 12, 2008
at 3:43 pm
David,
That warmed the cockles of my heart! Your mum is the best and you know that. You keep her close to you always as you do in your heart and life!
Love you both
Yan
By: Yanita on May 12, 2008
at 4:58 pm
David,
Your story was very touching and reminds me to do everything in my power to make sure that I am still here for my children.
I lost my mother on August 28, 2006. She died very suddenly of a heart attack. She was a very strong lady, but very stubborn and ignored the warning signs that could have saved her life. She was only 69. This is my second Mother’s Day without her. There is no way to describe the loss of my mother except that it is completely devastating.
I have since been to the doctor and found out that I have high blood pressure and started taking medication to control it. I am only 38 years old and want to be around to watch my children grow up and become a grandmother myself one day.
I miss her laugh and unconditional love, but I do my best to make her proud everyday. That includes going to the doctor and taking care of myself even when I don’t want to.
Thanks,
Gail
By: Gail on May 13, 2008
at 7:13 am
Hi Davey, It is Aunty Barb, loving you, your Mom and Dad and wishing all of you good health. I will have a wonderful surprise for you pretty soon; some cousins you don’t even know are here visiting me and we are doing a family history of your grandmother, Tess, and you will eventually get a wonderful book full of pictures and stories of people whose lives touch you, even if you do not know it! You will see great and great great grandparents you never knew; uncles and aunts and cousins related to you by blood and we are all hoping this will be meaningful to you and enrich your live.
Many hugs.
I love you.
Aunty Barb
By: Barb on May 16, 2008
at 3:47 am
WOW!!!!! Your story was beautiful and so heartfelt.
Your mom is so very lucky!! Keep up the wonderful work!
By: LAUREL on May 17, 2008
at 5:33 pm