Silenced by Cancer

[Serena W]

Greeting BAS Members. I hope all of you are blessed and creatively doing what you love to do. My last update was in the summer shortly before my mother Marguerite "Sauti" Wills was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. She was told that it was already at stage 4 which is advanced as it spread to her stomach as well. The following six months consisted of her being admitted to hospitals and rehabs, my family coming together on one accord and me traveling up and down to NYC consistently to be with and take care of her.

Six months to some people may be a short time. For us it felt like a lifetime. February 19th, only six months and nine days after Mom's diagnosis she passed away. I stayed under the radar because as my friend said, "Writing and poetry will wait for you." Mom was priority and there are days where I naturally feel as if all of this is surreal and that she will call me on the phone for our daily conversations.

However writing is what got me through this time of pain watching my mother go from getting better to getting worse. I wrote so many poems, tweaked my first poetry book, wrote my second one and submitted numerous pieces to anthologies.

Mom loved hearing that I was still writing. Her face would instantly light up. It was an up and down struggle for her and eventually she let go and asked God to take her home.

Two of my pieces that were just accepted in March of 2010 will be published in Gumbo for the Soul, Women of Honor. I sat next to Mom a week after her first chemo treatment and quietly submitted Abundant Love and Storms which are dedicated to her in September of 2009. She smiled when I told her and said, "I'm so proud of you." Before drifting off to sleep again.

Prayer is powerful fam and I'm going to keep my promise to my mother and keep fulfilling my dreams and take my writing to the next level. I've also become an advocate on behalf of Ovarian and gynecological cancers as I will run in a 5k next month for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and I'm working on a poetry book where proceeds will be donated to the coalition and Life with Cancer center in Fairfax, VA.

Stay tuned for my poetry book and first novel to be released by the end of this year and more to come next year.

Mama Sauti...you're missed and although I grieve for you I know that you smile down on us and will always be by my side guiding me through life's journey.

Ase...Ase...Ase

[Serena W]

Thank you so much for beautiful comment Enoch! It means a lot to me and I will live out her dreams and mine because I'm legacy and of the loving spirit that she blessed so many with. May peace be with you.

[Enoch Mubarak]

Dear sister Serena
Your mother portrait reveals that she was a beautiful woman and no doubt a lovely person. You resemble her greatly therefore I am most certain that her love, remembrance and spirit will flow through and intertwine itself through out your poems for your remaining years

May your mother rest in peace and may peace be still within you.

Sincerely, Enoch Mubarak
President/CEO Mubarak Inter-prizes
www.mubarakinter-prizes.com