Category: mother of a daughter

The Book of Another Mother

I finished Tara Heaton’s book late last night. I have the habit of highlighting and scribbling notes in the margins as I read. Almost every page of LIFE MINUTES Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache has been marked with hearts, tears, omg’s or YES in the margins.

Tara has laid it bare. My heart hurt with empathy as she described the tumultuous journey through various treatments for her daughter, Caroline. Other mothers will recognize the names of these drugs, treatments and hospitals. She has been another mother who has left no stone unturned looking for answers.

She also beautifully documents the effects this epilepsy treatment quest has had on her other two children, her marriage, her career and her own well-being. Epilepsy is a medical odyssey for the whole family, not just the patient. Tara shares how her family and friends have played important roles in the quest for Caroline’s cure.

I find this book an affirmation to my own story and struggles and also inspiration to my continued quest to find a cure for Rose’s seizures.

Tara is a fearless advocate in the continued search for the best care for our precious epilepsy patients. Her flame burns bright.

Bravo Mama Tara!

Seizure Mama FLOW

Another Writing Mother

A miraculous thing happened at the ‘ Wild Awakenings’  writing workshop with Cheryl Strayed which I attended this weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. I consider my getting myself to attend as a miracle, but that’s not it.

In a huge hall of over three hundred other writers, a lovely woman wearing flowing Beatles pants sat down in the seat beside me. She had on fingerless gloves with crocheted pink flowers on them. I instantly knew this was my kind of person.

She asked what writing projects I was involved in. I answered that I had written a book about my daughter’s epilepsy. She replied that she had just released a book about her daughter’s epilepsy. She asked how old my daughter is. I replied 32. She gasped and said her daughter is also 32.

(Pause here to do the math.)

This was a miracle. Of course we hugged. Of course I cried. We exchanged books.

The Universe sends us what we need just when we need it.

SEIZURE MAMAS

Seizure Mama and Cheryl Strayed

Stepping it Up

I hate to admit this to you. Especially you.

I wanted to step back. Take a break. Catch my breath.

But that is not what has happened. You have left the battle.

It is required that I STEP IT UP. The girls need me!

There are still struggles. There is still injustice and bias.

I can’t rest now. You need me to keep working.

So back I go, into the fray.  Fighting for attention and help and understanding and equality.

I cannot leave the battle. I have a daughter.

So another old lady warrior gets back on the front lines.

I’ll do my best. Bless you RBG.  

Flow