Tribute: Jackie

My Hero

When I think of a person who would best describe a hero a guess a lot of people would come to mind. Maybe it would be a teacher or a firefighter maybe a policeman. Some people might say a sports figure or a person in the military. They are all heroes in one way or another. I guess everybody has there own story of who s a hero in their own individual lives. My hero is a person that gave me life who taught me how to love, taught me to be courageous and how to care, taught me what it means to be compassionate and how to give of your self. But most of all she taught me how to live even though she was dieing. My hero will always be my mother. My mom was Jacqueline Brottenberg but everyone called her Jackie and at the young age of 59 she died of a Glioplastoma to everybody else a brain tumor. It is amazing what you learn medically when somebody you love gets diagnosed with cancer. And even though there was no known cure for her type of cancer she lived her life during that period as if a cure was right around the corner. In this age of new and promising medical discoveries you never know when the next cure will be announced that is why I ask all who might be suffering from this type of cancer never to give up, never!

I always had a fear of dying ever since I was a young boy but my mom gracefully took that away from me. I saw first hand how peacefully she looked when she passed. I knew Jesus was holding her at that very moment. With all the things my mom taught me it was her expression of love that was the greatest lesson learned. And it didn’t really hit me until I was writing my mother’s eulogy and I remembered what a friend’s wife asked me. She asked how I felt when my first child was born my little girl Kaitlin. I told her I had no words just that I would give her everything. The love was so intense it almost knocked me over. And if need be I would die so she could live. Now you know how much your mother loves you she said. I miss my mom so much but I know she is close. In heaven you are whole again, free from all the pain and surrounded by love the same love I felt when my child was first born and that gives me peace.

Like a line in the Josh Groban song “Up to Where You Are” my mom is only a breath away.

Love always,
Your son,
John

The Guardian Brain Foundation encourages you to submit your words of encouragement to inspire others and provide emotional support.