I am currently a mother of 2 little children who I love dearly. Sometimes they can just make me so mad! Sometimes my prayer of patience is silently playing on repeat all day long. Oh, but I love them so much and when all is said and done, I would do anything for my children to have a safe, carefree, simple life. I think most mothers would do the same. I am blessed to look back at my life and see that I have a mother who did just that. No matter how difficult the choice was, she always did her best to make sure that me and my siblings had the best life she could offer. And it wasn’t always easy. About 9 years ago, as a mother with 5 kids, a teacher, a student receiving her master’s degree, a wife, and whatever other roles she took on without my knowing, she was found to have breast cancer. Treatments ensued including chemo and radiation and happily, the cancer went away.
Five years later cancer was found again. This time it’s grown to places throughout her body including the spine, lungs, lymph nodes, and brain. I’ll be honest, I don’t know the nitty gritty details of my mom’s cancer. I know that we are at least 2 years into the second diagnosis and treatments continue. I know that she has gone through several rounds of chemo and radiation therapy. I know that her physical strength and stamina are forever changed through
the chemicals being put into her body. I know that I have seen a P.E. teacher who once used to ride her bike to
work every day now long to remember the days when she could ride a bike without falling off from dizziness and fatigue. Now divorced, sick of being sick and tired, and low on funds because she is on long-term disability, it is hard to keep up moral and continue to fight the fight.
My project, Live Aloha, is for my mom. Not for a reason to have people morn for her pain and losses, but to congratulate and support the enduring fight she faces every day. Most people know that Aloha means “hello”, “good bye”, or “love”. However, what most people don’t know is that that the deeper meaning of Aloha suggests a transference of human energy, or to“share the breath of life”. In greeting one another, the old Hawaiian ways were to embrace by placing hands upon shoulders, foreheads and noses touching and taking in a deep breath with each other. Throughout her life my mom has engaged in this kind of spiritual exchange and has given all the life she has to me, my family, and those around her. She has always done her best to live aloha but right now she could use a little herself.
After all the Aloha she has given to me it is now my turn to give back. Funds raised from the sale of Live Aloha shirts will go towards helping with the cost of medical treatments, but most importantly, it will reminds us all to live with love and hope. So a big MAHALO for your help in this cause…and ALOHA!
Five years later cancer was found again. This time it’s grown to places throughout her body including the spine, lungs, lymph nodes, and brain. I’ll be honest, I don’t know the nitty gritty details of my mom’s cancer. I know that we are at least 2 years into the second diagnosis and treatments continue. I know that she has gone through several rounds of chemo and radiation therapy. I know that her physical strength and stamina are forever changed through
the chemicals being put into her body. I know that I have seen a P.E. teacher who once used to ride her bike to
work every day now long to remember the days when she could ride a bike without falling off from dizziness and fatigue. Now divorced, sick of being sick and tired, and low on funds because she is on long-term disability, it is hard to keep up moral and continue to fight the fight.
My project, Live Aloha, is for my mom. Not for a reason to have people morn for her pain and losses, but to congratulate and support the enduring fight she faces every day. Most people know that Aloha means “hello”, “good bye”, or “love”. However, what most people don’t know is that that the deeper meaning of Aloha suggests a transference of human energy, or to“share the breath of life”. In greeting one another, the old Hawaiian ways were to embrace by placing hands upon shoulders, foreheads and noses touching and taking in a deep breath with each other. Throughout her life my mom has engaged in this kind of spiritual exchange and has given all the life she has to me, my family, and those around her. She has always done her best to live aloha but right now she could use a little herself.
After all the Aloha she has given to me it is now my turn to give back. Funds raised from the sale of Live Aloha shirts will go towards helping with the cost of medical treatments, but most importantly, it will reminds us all to live with love and hope. So a big MAHALO for your help in this cause…and ALOHA!