Don't Forget About Mom

Richard Suarez, MS3

Don’t forget about mom.

Life is a fickle, fragile thing and I am no stranger to its finite nature. In every stage of my life, I have experienced tragedy, whether it be my grandparents, my aunts, my uncles, my father. Disease has been an ever-present part of life—and my life—since the beginning, serving as a reminder of humanity’s imperfections. Although one is expected to have a firm grasp on the concept that everyone is destined to pass away, it does not make it any easier when it does. I wish I did not understand the idea very well, but that is just not my reality, and rather than crumble under the burden of pain, I use that to drive me today.

Don’t forget about mom.

When I was a child, my father always said that I would be “the physician of the family” and I am determined to make him proud. With his passing, that message of encouragement and love took on a new meaning. This tragedy prematurely expedited my growth as a nine-year-old boy, but it helped me gain a greater appreciation for everything, due to the newfound understanding that our days are numbered. I learned that death is a difficult aspect of life, and I desire to assist anyone in that transition and ease their suffering—along with their families—so that they do not have to endure what my family has.

Don’t forget about mom.

One of my grandmothers died of a brain tumor, one of my grandfathers died of colon cancer, my uncles died of a heart attack and prostate cancer, and my father died of a severe allergic reaction. I am often asked, “why medicine?” and I respond, “because I can relate to what they are going through, I can empathize with their pain and I can work towards a solution with them, one with better results than mine.” Due to this, I am motivated to join the field and try to fight for the patients and families who still have a chance, so they do not have to endure what I have had to. Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult and since I was a child, I have wanted to help my family stop attending funerals.

Don’t forget about mom.

Despite the profound impact the loss of my loved ones has had, it would be inconceivable to consider my life without those I have had the chance to keep around, to nurture me, like my mom. You see, although I experienced those tragedies, I was not alone as she did too, and while I had a shoulder to cry on, who did she have? My mom, a woman whose life went from wife and mother of five to widow and mother of five faster than one can say “goodbye,” was and still is my foundation.

Don’t forget about mom.

The trials and tribulations of life are not always fair or equal, but they serve a purpose. They are meant for you to not only aspire and dream but also to remember to be true to yourself and never forget from which you came. The struggles of growing up in a single-parent household due to this proverbial sentencing are not ones to be glorified in order to demonstrate one’s worthiness, rather, they should be considered to reveal one’s resiliency.

Don’t forget about mom.

However, it is hard to only focus on the hardships one has gone thrown and use only those experiences to blaze your path because, as I am sure you have all heard, “dying is easy… living is harder.” Living is harder because when an individual passes, you do not have the time to wallow because the world will leave you behind—while they rest, you do not have a choice but to continue. It is because of my mother that my family has made it strong, caring and loving. It is because of my mother that I am where I am today.

Don’t forget about mom.

It is so easy to take our moments and memories for granted because the thought of the ability, the chance, to regenerate, to continue making them is seemingly infinite, but we know, my family and I, that nothing is as permanent as it seems, no matter how much you wish it to be.

Don’t forget about mom.

So, every day I make sure not to forget about my mom in anything I do, because it is due to her that I have had the life I have lived and continue to live, filled with love, hope and the perseverance to endure. She is my reason for existing. Regardless of all the difficulties I have faced, she has guided me through, whether it be the path to medical school or not. She often says, “I hope I get to see you as a doctor.” Those words resonate in my mind, serving as my reminder to “don’t forget about mom” because I want her with me when I cross that stage, no longer a student, but a doctor.

Don’t forget about mom.

About the Author:

Richard Suarez received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida International University (FIU). He completed his Juris Master’s in Health Care Regulation from the Florida State University College of Law, where he acquired knowledge and experience concerning the legal and regulatory framework impacting medicine. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) as part of the Class of 2024. Throughout his academic career, Richard has strived to better his community. He has engaged in outreach programs focused on STD education in Miami-Dade and completed research in HIV therapy. He has also organized art auctions through the Mammography Art Initiative at FIU HWCOM, funding the fight against breast cancer health disparities within the Miami-Dade community. Richard has presented at numerous research conferences, such as the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, and the Peer Led Team Learning International Society Conference, among others. He has also earned various honors including the Jorge and Darlene Perez Graduation Scholar Award and is an inducted member of Phi Beta Kappa. Overall, Richard continues to push himself to become a well-rounded physician in the future.

About the Work:

"Don't Forget About Mom" serves two functions. One, for the reader to think about those in their lives that have pushed them towards success, those that have shown them love and compassion, and those that have served as inspirations for their goals. It is meant for them to look at the people they have around them and demonstrate their gratitude toward them. Two, for a boy to thank his mom for everything she has done for him, no matter how hard things have been, and that is a debt he will never be able to repay. It serves as a reminder to that boy that she is in his corner, always.