To my Ma, undoubtedly one of my greatest loves.

It took us over thirty years to mend our dysfunctional, volatile and intense relationship. In 2019, she shared with me her own birth trauma story which happened in the late 80s, after my younger sister was born….and finally I understood why she was the way she was.

If you think I had a traumatic birth story, brace yourself. My mother has been to hell and back:
– she nearly died after my sister was born due to a hack job c-section in Kuwait
– is the only known survivor of the horrific treatment that was prescribed to save her life, 21 other women died from the same treatment
– completely lost her memory for 6 months after this and could barely do simple tasks
– became a war refugee when my sister was three years old (I was eight)
– moved halfway across the world not knowing a soul (besides my dad) to give us a better future.

So whenever I doubt myself, I remember that I am made of her….and perhaps some of her brilliance has been passed down to me.

To my Ma, Mamima (maternal aunty), Kakima (paternal aunty), Didima (maternal grandma), Thakuma (paternal grandma), and all the other gorgeous mother figures in my life, I acknowledge you, love you and respect you, immensely and forever.

In gratitude xo