Wanted to call you today to say I love you, but your old number is no longer in service. I tried the operator, she said I’m sorry, I have no number for you. I tried to go to your house, but you don’t live there anymore. The post office has no forwarding address. I guess heaven is just too far away. I love you, I miss you mommy. You are in my heart always. You are gone but not forgotten. Merry Christmas to all those in Heaven this holiday season.
Baptismal day, I was 1 year old.
First day of school.
Christmas, 2002.
My grandpa's 80th birthday, 2006.
My mom with doctor Adams, 2004.
After my mom's first kidney transplant, 1986. She was 16 years old.
I’m not sure if many of you know on this blog, but I lost my mom to kidney failure on June 2nd, 2008. Prior to being on dialysis for almost 8 years, she has had 3 kidney transplants. The first one was her dad, my “Nannu” (grandpa). A few years later, the kidney failed and she was put on dialysis yet again. Between her, my grandpa, her brother Marco, and the doctors, she went in to have her 2nd kidney transplant when my grandma was visiting family in Italy. The 2nd kidney was donated by Marco. A repeat of the last occurrence, the kidney failed again. She was put on dialysis. She met a guy named Clifford who was willing to donate a kidney to her. He was a complete stranger to our family and just wanted to do a good deed. He demanded zero money. The kidney transplant all went well, but it only lasted for a very short time. After the 3rd kidney failed, she was on dialysis for almost 8 years until she lost her battle to kidney failure. This will be our 3rd Christmas without her. I cherish every moment I got to spend with her, and we literally lived to the saying, “Cherish each and every moment like it will be your last.” We did exactly that. If it wasn’t for my mother, I wouldn’t have had my soulmate, Poo-Key, and if it wasn’t for Poo-Key, I wouldn’t have any of the dogs I share my life with now. I can still tell Poo-Key, “Where’s Momma?” and she will run to the window looking for your car to drive down the road to pick us up.. It’s very sad, but also a sign she still remembers you.
Thank you mom, for everything.
Love you!
Love,
Edda, Carlo, Ricky, Marco, Antonio, Poo-Key, Nina, Verdae, Swagger, and I.
I am sorry to hear you lost your mother so young. This will be my first Christmas without my mom. She passed away the end of October. I know this Holiday season will be the hardest, but you have given me hope that the years won’t be forgotten just made more special. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
I am sorry for your loss Debbie. The worst, I think, is when you reach for the phone to give them a call and….
I wish I could give you a big hug right now, Monica. This moved me to tears. You are a very special person, and a living testimony to your mom. The picture of the two of you from 2006 is beautiful, love just leaps off the page.
I read somewhere that our relationship to the dead continues to change because we continue to love them. I’ve found this to be true in my life. You will always have a special relationship with your mom, even as the years pass, because you will always love her.
Lots of love to you, dear Monica! Thank you for sharing with us.
I agree we do continue to love them.
God bless you, Monica.
Wow Monica, I so relate, this is my first Christmas without my Mom, I didn’t even decorate my house this year and am in the deepest depression of my life, I’m trying to pull myself out of my deep funk, but my loss is especially hard for me, I’m just not feeling any happiness right now, my Mother was everything to me…. 🙁
I am so sorry Lorrie. You know that the last thing your Mum would want is for you to be depressed. Pulling yourself out of a blue funk is one of the hardest things to do. But you have to do it.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. It is clearly evident that your Mum loved you to pieces. I also see where you got your thick gorgeous hair from. But when I see your Mom I am going to ask her what was up with that kindergarten hair cut. Yeeesh. My plan e is loading have to run. Big momma bear hug to you!
Such a lovely tribute to your Mom, Monica. Just beautiful.