Kristen Johnson - Foster- Brooks J

My biological father died the day after my 3rd birthday 11-15-1984. Since then my mother, my hero, has had countless struggles. On top of relentless, overbearing and judging in-laws, she continued to hold a full time job and take care of a family of 8. Her first re-marriage in about 1987 was to a manipulative person who ended up using my mother. After the first divorce, my mother went back to school taking night classes for her Master Degree in Public Administration,while working full time to take care of me and my siblings. My mother re-married again, but he was not a fit husband or step-father. The divorce ended badly and he was forced to enter a correctional facility.

Anyway, I had a trying high school tenor, end up taking the CNA night classes my senior year offered from the local Tech school and graduating early from high school! (Momma proud of me!!). I started doing home health care for a couple of years, then went on to work in the hospital setting based on cardiac. About that time my best friend(mother) started having deranged symptoms that in 2004 her neurologist or general couldn't diagnose. She started slipping more and more, but regardless, her boyfriend of 4-5 years proposed(year before) and they were married July 31st of 2004. My mother used to always been there for me, whether it be calling for a lil' extra money, friend advise/drama, relationship problems, housing problems, job problems, school problems, the list goes on. One good example, I used to get crazy migraines, some would wake me from my sleep, I used to call my mom 1-2-3-4-5 in the morning and it would never fail that she would pick up, only to coax me gently back to sleep. My mom was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers disease about 5-6 years ago and it has taken it's toll. She has been seeing a few specialists, done numerous tests, taken numerous medications, going in and out of suicide close watches, dealing with life altering situations etc. She was at home until about 3 weeks ago, but the disease has been so rapid she has become more illusive and combative. My mother has been heavily sedated, but she is resting peacefully in a home now. For as long as I remember my mother, I have never heard her speak ill of any human being, even the people who wronged her, she always had a way of making them want to redeem their mistakes. I unfortunately didn't inherit that quality. My mother is my hero for that reason, and for never giving up or letting things get me down. She has always told me she is so proud of me, even for the stupid but learning mistakes that I've done. Never once has she belittled me, degraded me, or put any unnecessary pressure on me. My mother loves me for who I am, and trust me I am far from perfection, and she is the closest to it in mine and so many others' lives that she's touched! To this amazing human being that I am so humbled to call mine. I still fight with the struggles of losing my mother(mentally now, but I still feel like she is gone even though we haven't buried her yet) But I know she will always be in my heart. Just want to feel her like I used too.. My best friend and confidant..

Submitted by Anonymous

Humility