The Love of a Mother

By Susan Moyo

This memoir details the incredible love left by an angel departed, chronicling the journey through pain, self-discovery, and understanding of deep spirituality experienced by a daughter in mourning. This loving recollection exposes a system that is corrupt at all levels, and describes the healing process which follows such an enormous loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Moyo
• Release date: Jun 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005915438

Book preview

Mother_-_COVER.jpg

Copyright © 2022 Susan Moyo

First edition 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Susan Moyo using Reach Publishers’ services,

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Edited by Karen Runge for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

Website: www.reachpublishers.org

E-mail: [e-mail]

Text Description automatically generated

Susan Moyo

[e-mail]

Dedication

When my mom died, I thought I was going to die with her. She was my best friend, my comforter, my confidante, my light in the darkness. I was the love of my mother’s life. She sacrificed her life for mine. A soul for a soul. I am and always will be my mother’s heartbeat. She truly was an angel on earth. She was and still is a phenomenal mother to me and her granddaughters.

Chapter 1

The Morning My Life Changed Forever

I woke up feeling particularly happy and grateful: the following day, April 6th, was going to be my birthday. My husband, Zeli, was sleeping quietly beside me. I looked at him and smiled, thinking how lucky I was to be married to such a handsome and caring man.

I got up, put on my gown, and went to the kitchen for a drink of water. I then headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. At that moment I felt a sharp pain in my neck, increasing to the centre of my head. I screamed in pain—suddenly I could not move my neck; it felt as though my head was getting bigger. I could not control my movements; it was as though my body had been taken over by something I couldn’t see. I began sobbing, not sure what was happening to me.

My 12-year-old daughter, Venus, was still asleep when I went into her bedroom, screaming. I thought I was having a stroke.

She kept asking me, Mummy, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?

I could not answer her—I was in so much pain, and I was not sure what was happening to me. I began to see double in my left eye, and I was physically sick all over my daughter’s bed. She screamed for her dad as she realised that I was not well.

My husband came rushing in, also shocked at the sight he saw—my body was in spasms, and I still didn’t know what was wrong with me. It felt like my head was almost exploding.

I need an aspirin! I screamed at Venus.

I remembered an article I’d read online, saying that one needs to take an aspirin to prevent a stroke or a heart attack. My daughter rushed to the medicine drawer to get an aspirin. I took the tablet and gulped some water down. I’d stopped vomiting, but my throat felt as though I had swallowed a lump of burning coal.

I need you to call an ambulance, I calmly told my husband. I’m very sick but I’m not sure from what.

I could hear my daughter softly sobbing. Daddy, what’s wrong with mummy?

Further away I heard my husband talking on the phone, sounding panicked. Please hurry! he said. His voice was hoarse with concern.

* * *

I woke up later feeling like I’d been hit by a bus. Where am I? I asked.

You are at the hospital, dear, a sweet voice answered.

My head still hurts. What’s wrong with me?

The doctor will be with you just now, Ms Moyo. Please try and relax.

What was she talking about? I must try and relax? My head was almost on the brink of exploding, and she was telling me to relax! I lay there waiting for a doctor to come and explain to me why my head was in so much pain.

Eventually, a young doctor peeped in and explained my situation. Ms Moyo, he said, you had an aneurysm. A brain aneurysm can leak or rupture, causing bleeding on the brain known as a ‘haemorrhagic stroke’. Most often a ruptured brain aneurysm occurs in the space between the brain and the thin tissues covering the brain. This type of haemorrhagic stroke is called a ‘subarachnoid haemorrhage’. A ruptured aneurysm quickly becomes life-threatening and requires prompt medical treatment. You are lucky to be alive.

Wait—a what?

One of your arteries ruptured and spilled blood into parts of your brain, the doctor explained. "This is the main reason why you had