Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate and honor the women who have had the biggest impact on our lives—maybe for you that’s a mother or grandmother, an aunt or cousin, or even a family friend. For me, that person was my mother, Alice Corsini.
This year marks the 20th year of her passing, and, as I think about her, I am reminded of the valuable lessons she taught me and the impact she had on my life and the lives of others. While there are many stories I could tell about my mother, one stands out: the story of how she wrote a cookbook late in life after suffering three debilitating strokes.
My mother had always been an incredible cook. It was her passion and her talent, and everyone who knew her couldn’t wait to be invited over for a meal. But then, when she was in her 60s, she suffered a stroke that left her unable to use her right side. Determined to regain her strength and independence, she worked tirelessly with physical therapists and eventually regained most of her abilities. But just a few years later, she suffered another stroke—this time on her left side. Again, she fought back and regained most of her abilities. Then, just as she seemed to be on the road to recovery, she suffered a third stroke; this affected her right side again.
It was devastating, and the doctors told her that she would never be able to regain full use of her body.
My mother, though, was never one to give up easily. One day, while I was visiting her, she told me that she wanted to write a cookbook. I tried to be encouraging, but I couldn’t help thinking that it was impossible. How could she possibly write a cookbook with only one functional finger? But she started “pecking” away at the keyboard, typing one letter at a time. Day after day, week after week, month after month, she sat at the computer slowly but surely typing out her recipes.
During a visit several months later, I asked how the cookbook project was coming along. To my amazement, she pointed to a stack of paper about half an inch thick and said that it was “coming along nicely.” A couple months later, I got a package in the mail. I opened it to find her finished cookbook with the attached note (nearly illegible but written as best she could with her disability), “Son: I wanted you to have a copy of my cookbook. I love you! Mom”
She had done it! She had written a cookbook using only one finger. Over the next two years, she wrote two more cookbooks—each one longer and more detailed than the last.
My mother, even amid daunting hardship, lived the valuable lessons she taught me. Lessons like the importance of perseverance; determination; and never giving up, no matter how difficult things may seem. She also taught me the importance of finishing what you start, going first class, and always striving to better yourself. She had a voracious appetite for reading, and she instilled that same love of learning in me. And, perhaps most importantly, she taught me to never give up on my dreams.
As I celebrate this Mother’s Day, I am grateful for the incredible legacy my mother left behind. Her determination, her passion for life, and her ability to overcome any obstacle continue to inspire me to this day. And while I miss her dearly, I know that her spirit lives on through the lessons she taught me and the examples she set. So, to all the mothers out there, I say: “Thank you. Thank you for your love, your guidance, and your unwavering support.” And to my own mother, I say, “I love you, Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.”