I thought I knew everything about my mom. At 65, she was the steady foundation of our family—until the night I got into a taxi and found her behind the wheel. Seeing her there, in a driver’s cap, steering like a pro, shook me. I needed answers.
Life had been stable for me at 35, and my mom, Ellen, was a constant presence. But that night, she revealed her secret: she’d become a taxi driver to save for a road trip for Lily, my 10-year-old niece, who was battling a terminal illness. Lily had dreamed of seeing the world, and Mom, unwilling to burden anyone else, took it upon herself to make it happen.
Overwhelmed by her sacrifice, I called my sister Anna, and together we planned the trip. We rented an RV and set off with Lily, visiting oceans, mountains, and the Grand Canyon. Under a starlit sky one night, Lily whispered to Mom, “This is my favorite night,” and Mom, holding back tears, replied, “Mine too.”
The journey gave Lily memories that brightened her final days. Losing her was devastating, but Mom’s selflessness left an indelible legacy of love. Lily’s joy, her dreams, and Mom’s heroic determination will stay with us forever.
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