GILMA ESPINOSA ❤

Super Heroes don’t always wear capes. They don’t always fly, climb walls, or fight crime. One thing all super heroes do seem to have in common is that they protect w/o being asked and have amazing strength. My super hero is my mother. Gilma Espinosa and let me tell you that she does it all with a stern face and sometimes even a big smile. She is a fighter, provider, and even on a bad day she is on her feet making moves constantly making sure everyone and everything is okay. I never thought I would witness a battle that she could not win. Coming to the United States from Panama at the age of 22 with nothing, but her pride and self-love she began her new life. She bore 4 children of which two she raised closely, my older brother Mickey and I. At what point in life are you ready to hear the words “your mother only has a couple days to live”? I didn’t think that point would be at 27 years old with an incarcerated brother within 3 months of being diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. All of a sudden I was left with a huge responsibility of nursing my mother back to health like she did for me all those years I had the common cold. This is not a common cold this is cancer. 1 in 2 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer I just didn’t know my mother would be that one. The community mother she was. From allowing my close friend to live at our home w/ her child in their time of need to making sure my other friends stopping by got warm plates to eat. Why me? Why now? These are questions I can’t even ponder for too long because this is all happening so quickly and I don’t want her to see me fold. I have to be strong for my brother whom can’t even visit or help out. I know he is hurting more than me and I hope that his one granted visit on her last days brings him some kind of peace. I’m not asking for handouts, but only support. Living with your dying mother and not knowing if you’re going to be able to take on the responsibilities that she made seem so easy is a headache in itself. It’s my turn now though. With the help of my older brother Attilla It’s our turn to repay the favor and be my mother’s super hero. Thank you to all that lend a helping hand in our time of need.