My Mother's name is Esperanza. In Spanish it means Hope. She is a one year breast cancer survivor and my inspiration. Last year when she called me, her only daughter, with the diagnosis, I felt like my foundation had been ripped out from under me. However, because of my Mother and her sheer determination, I suddenly felt a sense of hope... literally and figuratively. She only ever used the word cancer once when she shared with me her diagnosis. After that she never used it again. She refused to give it any more power over her life. I never saw her cry or witnessed a sense of fear in her brown eyes, only faith. She endured one surgery and then another shortly thereafter out of precaution. She underwent seven weeks of radiation and only then, after her last appointment, did her eyes get wet. Not because she had beat it. Not because she could have lost her life, but because she had grown so close with the nursing staff who helped her through this journey. My Mother inspired me to be a better mother to my own two boys. She taught me that attitude is everything and nothing is "too much to handle" if you keep your faith. Hers are big shoes to fill, and being her only daughter, I see it as my challenge in life to fill them.

Signed,
Natalie Reilly