After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of

After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of

Leana S. Wen
22/09/2025
22/09/2025

After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.

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After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, my mother lost her battle with cancer. I think about her every day. I miss her terribly, and wish she were there to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and to cheer when my sister received her college diploma.
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of
After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of

Hearken, O children of remembrance, to the lament and reverence of Leana S. Wen, who recounts the long struggle of her beloved mother against the relentless tide of cancer. Eight years of fighting, of enduring the harsh trials of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, culminated in a loss that left a void deeper than words can fill. In these words lies the eternal teaching that love, though tested by suffering, endures in the memory and spirit of those who remain. The shadow of absence is heavy, yet it shapes the heart and molds the soul into resilience and devotion.

Consider the weight of rituals unshared, the milestones where the beloved presence is keenly missed. Wen’s yearning—for a mother to walk her down the aisle, to cheer at her sister’s graduation—is a testament to the sacred role of family in marking the passage of life. The ancients knew this grief well: the epic of Antigone recounts a daughter mourning the absence of guidance and protection, facing the rites of life with courage in the face of loss. Memory becomes a bridge between the living and the departed, a source of both sorrow and strength.

In the chronicles of history, we see this enduring bond in figures like Abraham Lincoln, who carried the shadow of his mother’s death through his life, shaping his compassion and fortitude. The absence of loved ones does not diminish their influence; rather, it imbues each triumph, each moment of passage, with their unseen blessing and silent guidance. Wen’s reflections echo this ancient truth: the love of a parent is not confined to the temporal world, but persists in acts of remembrance and homage.

This quote speaks also to the courage of enduring grief, and the way in which human beings carry loss into the fabric of everyday life. Each thought of her mother is a sacred act, a meditation on the impermanence of life and the permanence of love. In the long struggle against suffering, the heart learns patience, and the soul learns the profound weight of presence, even when it is no longer visible.

Let all who hear these words understand the lesson of continuity through memory: though our loved ones may depart from the sight of our eyes, their essence shapes our journey, informing the milestones of our existence with guidance, warmth, and courage. Wen teaches us that in sorrow lies the invitation to honor, in absence lies the call to remembrance, and in love, both ephemeral and eternal, lies the true heritage of life.

Thus, O seekers, mark these words and carry them as a lamp through the darkness: the rites of passage, the celebrations of life, are imbued with greater meaning when shadowed by loss, and our hearts grow richer and more tender as we cherish the enduring presence of those who have gone before us.

Leana S. Wen
Leana S. Wen

American Born: January 27, 1983

With the author

In December of 1990, just before my eighth birthday, I left China for the United States. My father was a political dissident, and after he was released from prison, we joined my mother in a little town in the mountains of Utah. It was quite a change from my hometown of Shanghai, a city of 25 million people.

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Have 6 Comment After eight years of fighting, and multiple rounds of

HGHuong Giang

Leana’s quote speaks volumes about the impact of losing a loved one, especially a parent. The pain of not having her mother there for significant life events like her wedding is palpable. It makes me think about how we all cope with grief—do we hold on to the memories, or do we push forward, learning to live without that person? What role does time play in healing from such a profound loss?

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NONTD Official

Leana’s words capture a deep emotional struggle that many face after losing a parent. The loss of a mother after such a long battle with cancer must have left a lasting impact on her life. How does one manage to celebrate joyous moments while still grieving? Is it about finding a way to honor the memory of the loved one, or simply trying to move forward while holding their memory close?

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BBpham bang bang

This quote is so moving and relatable. The idea of wishing a loved one could be present during important moments, like a wedding or graduation, is something many of us can relate to. It’s clear that Leana’s grief is still fresh and profound. How do you think people cope with such loss while navigating the major events in their lives? Is it possible to still celebrate those moments while feeling the absence of a loved one?

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GDGold D.dragon

Leana's quote beautifully expresses the sorrow of losing a parent, especially after a long and difficult battle with illness. The way she remembers the milestones her mother missed, like walking her down the aisle, is so relatable. It makes me wonder, how do people who’ve lost a parent find strength in these moments? Can we ever truly move on, or is the grief something we learn to live with every day?

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QPLe Quynh Pham

This quote really made me stop and think. Losing a parent to cancer is an unimaginable pain, and Leana’s words express that grief so deeply. It’s touching how she wishes her mother could have been there for milestones like the wedding and her sister’s graduation. What do you think helps people move forward after such a significant loss? Is it the support of others, or finding new ways to honor their loved one?

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