Today I found out that a client I served two years ago has passed away. She was 31 years old and the mother of two small daughters. The first time I met her, she stole my heart so I had to write about the experience that I had in meeting her. I think it was one of the first stories I ever wrote about my job at the WIC Clinic. I am sharing it here. I have changed her name, but I do ask that you pray for her, her daughters, and her mother who is now caring for the little girls. Thanks!
A Woman’s Strength
When I first called her name, she was slow to respond. She got up slowly from her chair and as she walked towards me, it was obvious that she was in tremendous pain. My heart immediately began to ache for her and I knew there was something about her that would not make this a usual postpartum visit.
Melody had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl three months ago, and she also had a two- year old daughter. It was after her baby was born, that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The treatments that she was receiving for the tumor were causing her intense pain. In spite of the fear and the pain that surround a brain tumor diagnosis, she still had two small children who required her love and care, so here she was, in between treatments, to have her daughters certified for WIC so she could continue to provide for their nutrition and health needs. She was grateful to have the assistance of her mother and the prayers of her church community.
As Melody shared her story with me, I couldn’t help but succumb to tears. Yet here she was, comforting me! She said “I know I’m going to beat this! I am strong, and my faith in God is strong. I have my entire parish praying for me. I’m going to do everything I can to get better. My children need me and I am going to be here for them!” She reached out and held my hand and I could feel that she was strong. I believed that she would beat this. She held a worn out bible in her other hand and I knew that it was her faith that was making her so strong.
I’m usually the one who encourages mothers with small children, and tries to lift them up to meet the challenges of parenting small children, and here I found myself in the reverse position. I was the one who needed lifting up, and this beautiful woman found the strength in herself to do that for me at a time when others would be crumbling in self- pity and fear.
There are days when I am proud of the difference that I am able to make in others lives, and there are days like this one, when I am proud to let someone else make a difference in my life. My prayers and thoughts continue to go out to Melody; not only for her healing, but also that I may be strong enough to follow her example.
Apr 29, 2009
