My mother, my sister, Ms. Janine (my "other mother"), Regina (my cousin), Ms. Shirley. These five people bring about warm feelings as these are the people who nurtured me, loved me, and fussed at me because they cared about me.
I am a sever asthmatic. Before my 17th birthday, I had been hospitalized 49 times, been on the ventilator 4 times, and have doctors say "I don't think she's going to make it" 4 times. Through it all, my mother was always there holding my hand; willing me to breathe.
My sister's nickname is "comfort" because she is the one who always understands. She fusses like a mother but at the end of it all I know she loves me because "I am her first child" as she likes to tell everyone!
Ms. Janine has been in my life since I was diagnosed with asthma at 14 months old. She was the nurse at the doctors office I was a patient at. As a child, especially a teenager, I could always go to Ms. Janine and tell her things I wouldn't dare discuss with my mother. She would always quietly listen, give her opinion, at the end of every conversation, give me a hug and tell me that everything would be okay.
My cousin Regina is my "ride or die" (for those of you who know what that means!) She is the one that would always cover for me when I was being the typical teenager! She is like my older sister. I can tell her how I really feel about everything and she always has that understanding ear. We are both close to my mother so whenever I'm mad at my mom, she is that voice of reasoning needed to help me understand where my mother is coming from.
Ms. Shirley is always on my side. She gives me the encouragement and motivation to continue forward. No matter what it is, Ms. Shirley has always told me that she is proud of me! And sometimes just to know that someone is as excited about your accomplishment as you are makes a world of difference when it comes to motivation.
Their influence continues to impact my life by the compassion and patience I show my own children.
