My Mom's Story

This is my mom, Debbie. 

She was born in a small town in southeast Missouri to an elementary school teacher and a rural mail carrier.  They lived in the country on a little farm where she grew up as the middle child. The only girl, sandwiched between an older brother and a younger brother. As she grew up, she loved playing with her friends, sewing, playing the piano, and going to church.  One day, while attending church with a friend, she would meet the love of her life, my dad.  Growing up, I knew that this was the kind of marriage to strive for.  They weren’t perfect but they were a team and they were friends and our home was filled with love.

In 1997 my mom sat my sister and I down for a serious conversation.  She had found a lump in her breast and we would be traveling the next day to see a doctor.  The next day was a blur of waiting rooms for us as Mom and Dad sat through tests and appointments.  It was breast cancer, and a very fast growing cancer.  The next several months were filled with surgery, chemo, doctor appointments, and all that comes with cancer.  At Mom’s one year appointment we were happy to hear that all seemed well.  We approached each yearly anniversary with cautious optimism.  Every year her doctors assured us that Mom was doing well.

Twelve years passed and the cancer returned.  This time was different, however.  This time, Mom had metasticized cells to over come.  Over the course of several years my mom fought bravely.  She celebrated and lived life to the fullest whenever she could, despite being in pain. 

In May of 2013, my Mom passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family. 

She was loved by an entire community and we still feel her loss deeply.  She taught elementary school for 30 years.  She was the pianist at church until she was too sick to do so.  When she couldn’t be there to play, they often played her pre-recorded songs.  She was the grandmother to two sweet little girls and, after her passing we added two little boys to our family as well.  She was the kind of mom that could be too sick to move in bed, but ask how your day was and if you were doing okay.    

Mom was one of my biggest supporters when I started my soap business.  One day, I received a fragrance oil sample in the mail.  When I opened it up, it reminded me of the perfume my mom would wear to church every Sunday.  It was then that I decided to make a soap dedicated to her.  She loved it and often bought several bars to give away to nurses or other breast cancer warriors. 

For every bar of “Mom’s Perfume” sold, I will donate $3.50 to Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis where my mom was cared for.  The money goes directly to the doctors and researchers looking for cures and treatments for all cancers.