My Mother passed away a year back after suffering for a brief period of kidney failure. The kidney failure itself was a result of chronic diabetis which she suffered for 32 years. She also was a patient of high BP and suffered heart stroke 3 to 4 times during this period. In 1996 she underwent by-pass heart surgery.
In all this I found my mother a woman of courage. 32 years of high BP, high diabetis and heart problems and yet she lived a full life as if there were many many years ahead. She downed the medicines prescribed by doctors religiously. She injected insulin twice a day on her own. She would regularly check her BP and blood sugar. There was a time when she would take as much as 52 tablets a day. To us all this appeared painful, but she demonstrated exemplary courage. She went about her business with the confidence that nothing would happen to her.
When she was totally in the brink in 1996, doctors suggested heart operation. She gladly went to the operation table with the confidence that when she came out she could resume her active life.
I learnt from her to accept life as it comes and not be bogged down by problems. I also learnt that one can control and live a healthy life even in the midst of severe illness by religiously following the instructions of the doctors and trusting on God. My Mother realised how important it was to take medicines at the right time and in the right doses.
During her life time she underwent 5 to 6 operations. 32 years of her life she had severe problems. But it was only in the last few months that she suffered. She went on to live till the age of 72.
I salute her courage and the lessons she taught her children. Her ability to fight illness was exemplary.