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Taking poetic license from Shakespeare, I recently found myself contemplating the value attributed to names and titles as I prepared for my next mission trip. For so long, my focus had been achieving more of these—whether it be professor of surgery, program director, or chair of the department. Fortunately, in His goodness, God stripped them away and left me with what really mattered—the names of wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, niece, friend, Godmother and now Mom Mom.
#Perspective #LegacyOverLabels #AmericanCollegeofSurgeons
In my family, Mom Mom is the sobriquet of the matriarch instead of grandmother. It has always represented the woman in the generation whose strength kept the family together. I grew up in awe of my Mom Mom, my mother’s mom, who as the mother of eight, built a newspaper alongside my Pop Pop while raising diligent and devout children. My mother, my children’s Mom Mom, followed in her footsteps embodying the same fortitude. With my Dad, she raised seven children who learned determination and discipline through tough love at an early age. So, when our eldest daughter Alejandra—who joined our family 17 years ago as our au pair and quickly became our 5th child—had her first, I could not be prouder to strive to deserve the name of Mom Mom.
#BlendedFamily #ChosenFamily #MomMomMoments
Being Mom Mom began as we walked her pregnancy together with all the anxieties and anticipation culminating in the birth. After 38 hours of labor, multiple positions, four hours of pushing and me supporting her mostly by yelling “GET OUT” to the baby and suggesting things that her wonderful OB/GYN, @JaimeObst, politely told me, “They don’t do that anymore,” baby Bella was born! My own experience in childbirth had been very different—having 4 kids in less total time than it took her to have one—ahh the benefits of being on call the night before giving birth! Hence, Bella’s delivery was transformative for all of us. Ale recognized her inner strength and responsibility as a new mother and me the power and privilege of being a Mom Mom.
#WomensHealth #BirthStory #GenerationalStrength
So what does this have to do with a mission trip? It all has to do with prioritizing the roles we do have. Just one day after getting Ale settled at home, I left to serve the community at IntegrisHealth Baptist as an acute care surgeon for a week, came home for one day and then was off for a four-day band trip with my two youngest as chaperone and band doctor—to fulfill my other name as Mom. Grateful that my professional family supports my flexible work schedule, I can fulfill all my roles. Of course, none of it would be possible without an understanding husband holding down the fort. This wife was able to spend two days in four weeks at home before leaving to fulfill my privileged role as missionary.
#MissionWork #FaithInAction #MedicalMissions #MomLife #GratefulHeart
So perhaps Shakespeare had it right. The name or title does not matter in and of itself—what is more important is how you fulfill the role. Becoming a missionary has made me appreciate so much more all the titles I have that really matter, none of which include monetary value and yet are invaluable to the people they bless and to the God who made me for the purpose. In Uganda, I see women labor with no pain medicine and pushing through it with a stoicism that is humbling. I am grateful for what we have in the US and for the care my daughter and granddaughter received. Moreover, as a mother and now as a Mom Mom trying to emulate those who came before me by setting the example of unconditional support, I know my family are in the good hands of each other and more importantly of God.
#GlobalHealth #ServingOthers #MercyInAction #Gratitude #PurposeDriven
Hence, I had no qualms returning soon after Bella’s birth to the country where these strong people survive under harsh circumstances to do what I can to help them. Ultimately, as I have learned through this missionary work with Mercy Trips, kindness, compassion and generosity fulfill the ideals of the most important name of all which we each should embrace—Child of God.
#MomMom #LegacyOfLove #FaithFamilyMission #LivingYourPurpose