Personal Narrative: My Mom's Surgery

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“She has been so strong and hasn’t let out a single tear. On the contrary, she has been consoling me,” I overheard my father saying on the phone as he was sobbing. I remember being filled with dread because up until that point, I had never seen my father cry. Later that night my parents sat me down and informed me that my mother had a brain tumor. Her debilitating headaches should have told us something was very wrong, however we were too young to know any better. Nevertheless, we were assured that she would be fine once the lime-sized growth from her brain was removed. During her hospitalization and recovery, I was eager to have my healthy, independent mother back. Unfortunately, my vision was faulty and instead she came home depressed and …show more content…

We then learned further treatment was unachievable and over time, my mother began to lose her strength and mobility, which required us to place her in hospice care. As one of her caregivers, I helped to feed, groom, bathe, and assist her in the bathroom. During this time, it was disheartening to see my mother deteriorate, knowing that there was nothing further I could do. At age 14, I watched helplessly as my mother, and best friend, lost her battle with cancer. In my grief, my interest in the medical field intensified; I was determined to be there for other people who faced similar situations. I also wanted to do my part to prevent cancer so others would not have to suffer the pain of losing a loved …show more content…

Sadly, I also witnessed healthcare disparities on a large scale. Like my mother, many patients in Surat had to travel long distances from their villages to obtain affordable treatment. However, my mother's problem was strictly due to our low socioeconomic status. In contrast, the patients I met in India were not just poor, but also from rural locations that had limited medical care. During my internship, I realized that the inaccessibility of healthcare caused some patients to delay treatment, which affected their chance of a positive outcome. Moreover, the time and cost of traveling robbed these patients of their limited resources. Thereupon, I was determined to do my part to eliminate healthcare disparities and help the residents of underserved communities obtain the services they

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