Most Traumatic Experience

School had just ended for summer vacation when my aunt took me by the hand and said, “Your face should be the first thing your mother sees when she wakes up.” I was twelve, and old enough to understand, but not prepared for what happened next. We walked through a maze of grey hallways until we reached a large room with rows of ugly striped curtains. Behind one, we found my mother. However, the patient did not resemble her at all. Her face and neck were bandaged, but the swelling was clearly visible. She could not speak, but when she opened her eyes, they smiled at me. Then, they shifted and focused on my aunt who translated their meaning immediately. “Kiss your mother goodbye,” my aunt instructed. Once home, I sat with my grandmother and sketched, page after page, as thoughts raced through my mind. Quietly she sat beside me until I was ready to share my story.
A few days later, my mother returned home, but her recovery was just beginning. Radiation, scans, medication, doctor’s visits, and biopsies were in her future. My mother, my only parent, had thyroid cancer, and it was the most traumatic experience of my life. …show more content…
During my mother’s recovery, I turned to my world of drawing. Of course, I was afraid of losing my mother, but she always encouraged me to pursue my interests, and that was drawing. Also, she reassured me that she’d always be honest with me. I found comfort in our openness, and with it, I grew. My mother instilled in me many values, including integrity, perseverance, and a sense of humor. She also taught me to look for the positive in every experience. I’m still working on that one. However, seeking the positive inspires my work. It helps me to see all perspectives, whether positive, cynical, humorous, solemn, sorrowful, or