Dear Isabella,
From the moment I held you in my arms, I instantly loved you and knew you were incredible. People would tell me all the time that you had an old soul, and I could see what they meant. In your first year of life I could tell that you were wise beyond your years, and seemed to understand far more than you could let us know.
When you were 21 months old I received the news that no mother should have to hear. I was told you had cancer. You were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and treatment began immediately. I felt helpless. I wanted to do everything I could to keep you safe and happy, and this was so far out of my control. Going in to this I kept thinking about how strong and determined you were and I made peace with the fact that if anyone could get through this, it was you.
You spent the entire first year of your treatment proving my theory correct. Instead of fighting the needles and nurses, you realized they were helping you, and found a way to have fun, even during a terrible time. You observed everything they did, and before long, you were helping push syringes and making nurses laugh with your silly antics. Instead of focusing on the pain and treatment, you were set on raiding the sticker drawers and entertaining people who came to visit you. When I cringed at the thought of you having to swallow 17 pills every week, you made a game of it and took pride in showing me how fast you make them disappear. When I couldn’t be strong, you were the first to hug me and say “It’s ok momma, no crying.”
Once I became a parent, I expected to teach my child as much as I could, but I never realized that I would instead be learning the most important lessons in life from my child. You taught me strength, courage, and how to love without holding back. Before you, if someone had told me that a 2-year-old would put my entire life in perspective for me I would have thought they were crazy, but that’s exactly what you’ve done.
When this is all in your past, I hope you remember how amazingly you soared above it. I am certain that your intelligence, willpower, and compassion, will take you great places. I hope that you find a way to spread joy to people the way you have given it to me.
Please remember to dream big, and if an obstacle ever stands in your way, know that you’ve already overcome the biggest hurdle in your life. I love and admire you with all of my heart. You are my hero.
Love Always,
Mom
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