Iliana Sanchez-Oberkircher, MS3 Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston
Froto mis manos afuera del quirófano,
veo las manos agrietadas de mi madre,
tierra en sus uñas de los cultivos marcando su labor.
Me pongo la bata y los guantes,
observo a mi madre con su mandil
y redecilla lista para cocinar.
En la esquina del quirófano me paro,
recordando esperas en rincones desconocidos,
aguardando que mi madre terminara de limpiar.
El cirujano tras el robot se coloca,
veo a mi madre con la aspiradora en mano
en la desmotadora de algodón cuando éramos migrantes.
Cierro la incisión con suturas precisas,
mientras veo a mi madre cosiendo botones,
uniendo la tela, cerrando cada rotura.
Trasladamos al paciente a su cama,
veo a mi madre levantando ancianos
en sus domicilios, cuidándolos con esmero.
Empujo la cama hacia la sala de recuperación,
y vislumbro a mi madre empujando carritos
en el supermercado, día tras día, sin desmayo.
Froto mis manos nuevamente y veo
las manos de mi madre aplaudiendo,
mientras camino por el escenario,
su sacrificio no será en vano.
About the Author: Iliana Sanchez-Oberkircher is a third-year medical student at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine at the University of Houston. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, she is a first-generation American, college graduate, and eldest daughter of an immigrant family. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelors and Masters in Biology with a focus in Neuroscience. She is now a nontraditional medical student who worked as a public school science teacher prior to entering medical school for almost 5 years. She was the founding president of the LMSA Chapter at the University of Houston and is passionate about mentoring students and working with underserved communities of Houston.
About the Work: This free-verse poem is inspired by the many jobs my mother held to provide for my siblings and I. She was a single parent and an immigrant who didn't speak the language and came to this country at the age of 16 to provide for her family that included 8 younger siblings back in Mexico. Later, as the parent of a child with disabilities, she remained in this country to ensure her children had access to healthcare and education. Her sacrifices and unwavering work ethic serve as a constant source of motivation for me, both in my pursuit of medicine and in navigating life's challenges. She stands as the epitome of strength, and I remind myself daily of the sacrifices she made, especially as I have the privilege to stand in the operating room. It is an honor to be able to write something in Spanish to dedicate to her.
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