A Tale of Two Mothers

ABSTRACT

This narrative describes the experience of the author's mother with pancreatic cancer from diagnosis to death. The author lives in the United States and his mother lived in India. Decisions about the type of care to seek, learning about palliative care, and the family's experience of seeking care at Pallium India are described. As a young Hindu boy in India, the author met Mother Theresa. He describes how her message of compassion to the young school boy became more clear and meaningful only after the loss of his mother when he appreciated the similar compassion shown by Mother Theresa and the staff of Pallium India.

KEYWORDS :

• compassion
• Mother Theresa
• pancreatic cancer
• palliative care
• Pallium India