My Mother and Social Media

No matter how old you are, when a parent is sick or has passed away, their children can feel a bit lost and like orphans.  When a mother is ill, their family seem more like nomadic wanderers than a tribe of relatives.  As is tradition in many multi-cultural homes, mothers, are the center of the family.  My father, a strong and loving Cuban husband & father is very much the provider and head of the household.  However, my mother is the glue that holds everyone together and is the mighty engine behind many.  She is very much the heart and soul of our immediate and extended family.

During the past decade, she has struggled with Type 2 diabetes and over the last two years has battled a war with kidney failure and dialysis.  She is a dynamic, devout, intelligent, attractive and witty woman who possess a magnetism that leaves everyone liking her.  An accomplished woman, she was one of the first Latina senior advisors for the New York Dept. of Labor’s EEO Dept.  A woman who learned to how balance work and home, decided to totally change careers to the educational field soon after having her last & fourth child (me) later in age.  (Given her successful high profile position, her decision was virtually unheard of during the women empowered career-driven 1980s).

Though she has been a respected counselor to family and strangers alike for so many years, she is a private person for her own personal affairs. She is used to helping others and never asking help for herself.  She has always been able to do whatever she set her mind to and nothing has been out of reach for her.  Yet to see such a pillar of strength struggle medically over the last few years has been very hard for her and those around her.  (Its been devastating for her sisters & my other siblings who live out-of-state not to be with my Mom in her time of need because they are all so extremely close to her.  However, my sister is helping to provide in home care for her and I live 5 minutes away.) My Mother’s everlasting faith in the Lord has sustained her more than words can express in her life and especially during these last difficult years.

Today was another one of those days where my Mother was ill, undergoing surgery, and in the hospital.  After seeing my work in public relations and new media, she allowed me to share information about her. Though still a private person, she now understands the power of social media and social media good.  When experiencing situations in your life and a statement, question or request is posed to others, the response is always overwhelming. 

Social media can really be an extended and outreaching embrace connecting people who don’t even know each other. After posting a request for prayer for my Mom on Facebook & Twitter as I had in the past, I (and my family) have been continually moved by the outpouring of prayers, well wishes, and support.  My Mother has been deeply touched and its truly wonderful for her soul to see such loving comments directed for her from people she never even met.  As testament to the power of good will, she now has a Facebook profile, wants her pictures uploaded or tagged to her profile, and like many social media enthusiasts is a player of the game FrontierVille! 🙂 She calls me on the phone when she sees something interesting on Facebook and supports my fellow bloggers by reading their stories…she is turning into a true social media fan.

To all those that have ever said a prayer, thought positively, and have written or called on behalf of my Mother from a grateful daughter, THANK YOU! GRACIAS! Countless has been all of your thoughts, prayers and good sentiments. Each and everyone mean so much and unites us all! xoxo