Mam

Unconditional love is to me what she has given

I hope she knows I'm thankful for the fact that I am living

all through my life she's been there for me no matter what

as mothers go she really is the greatest of the lot 

I often wish I could go back to years that have gone by

to see her in her younger days before I was a twinkle in her eye 

she has so many photographs and stories from her youth

and sometimes it is hard to believe what happened is the truth

She has been through so many things others could simply not endure

which began with catching polio the year before the cure

she spent so many, many years stuck in a hospital bed

and once or twice she was so ill she nearly ended up dead

The doctors tried but failed to help her walk without help again

and in the process they made her suffer and caused a lot of pain

her crutches and her callipers now keep her on her feet

and make her unforgettable to whoever she may meet

The Sanderson Orthopaedic in Gosforth was her abode

from the age of 3 til her late teens she watched childhood erode

in an old home for crippled kids filled with many a doc and nurse

she spent her life but never once thought why me or what a curse

The surgery stopped and she went home to live her life to the full

she partied with friends and went abroad her life was never dull

She passed her test and got her first car a little Tippin Delta

hung out at the Spanish City and rode the Helter Skelter

She got a job inspecting silver signs at a wooden bench

her passion and her lust for life you simply could not quench

her workmates like everyone she knew just loved her ever so 

they all wanted to make friends with her she did not have a foe

Then on the factory floor she met a man who changed her life

and in July 1976 she became his wife

for 4 years Mr and Mrs shared much happiness and much pleasure

the depth of love they mutually felt was impossible to measure

Then 1980 dawned and in her breast she found a lump

she had the awful treatment but never once was heard to grump

to aid with her recovery the couple went away

to Disneyland in Florida and made the most of every day

Upon their return to their little flat a miracle did happen

she thought the radiotherapy was the cause of constant napping

but to her surprise she found that she was going to have a child

doctors warned her of risks and dangers but luckily they were mild

In November 1981 a girl was born and shown on telly

her Mammy was really groggy having had a big op upon her belly

how the new mother coped was nothing short of mystifying

especially when all the baby did at night was never ending crying 

The mother and the father had it rough those very early days

but they were sadly mistaken if they thought it was a phase

the tot grew up to never seem to want sleep alone

but the Mammy never was the kind to gripe or fuss or moan

She doted on her baby and made the kid her all

but unfortunately under the strain something had to fall

her marriage ended sadly and she was granted a divorce

and her life began to follow a new uncharted course

In 1988 cancer struck her breast once more

this time a permanent solution was what the docs called for

yet another hospital procedure had to happen late that year

so her parents and her sister took turns to offer care

While still recuperating she lost her dear old Dad

I'm certain that a weaker person would have gone quite mad

she said farewell and got straight on with bringing up her girl

whose growing up seemed to be passing by in one big whirl

And like the tides and clouds above the years along they rolled

and gradually her ex-hubby came back in to the fold

as a 3 they travelled all over Great Britain and the States

and she and her former spouse became the best of mates 

In May 1998 a devastating blow was dealt

her beloved mother passed away, emptiness was all she felt

but as always her resilience and her courage saw her through

and helped her cope with another loss, that of Barry in 2002

And then a golden puppy came to heal her broken heart

and to the family unit became such a massive part

the two years later Hilary was taken ill and died

and even though she’s usually strong I watched as my Mam cried 

After 12 months she got a call from Guide Dogs for the Blind

saying our humble bungalow was the new home they hoped to find

for a labrador retriever whose name we learned was silly

who chooses Emmett for a dog instead of Rex or Willie?!

So Emmy was re-christened and quickly settled in

it didn’t take him long to rule this castle like a king 

he’s such a special canine who gives us lots of love

I really think he was sent to us from someone from above

Soon her offspring left school and got a job to help with bills

but like her Pa before her she needed to take pills

and when she was ill and couldn't graft she felt she’d let Ma down

but her Mama never judged her and never wore a frown

Now her girl is home all day and they spend their time together

there is no problem or difficulty this duo cannot weather 

her life has been so blighted with events both sad and tragic

but she has never lost her spirit, her positivity and her magic

There aren't the words to really say how wonderful you are

if life is one big movie then it's you who is the star

I really am the luckiest girl who has ever walked the earth

and all because you were the Mam I was handed to at birth

My Mam is my hero even though she probably doesn't know it

and in some small way I hope this poem will finally show it

she has battled many painful times but always comes out fighting

but to say everything to sum her up would mean I'd not stop writing

And if in the near future she is faced with more bad knocks

I'll be there to trip troubles up before they're out the blocks

her dulcet tones have once or twice landed her in quite hot water 

but anyone who messes with her must first get past her daughter!