Cynthia Busuttil writes about a mother who not only gave birth to her daughter, but also a kidney
A mother's love knows no bounds. Joanne Spiteri is reminded of this reality every day.
In January 2006, after years of renal dialysis, Ms Spiteri was given a new lease of life when her mother, Miriam Fenech, gave her one of her kidneys.
"It was the biggest gift she could ever give me. It was as if my mother gave birth to me a second time," Ms Spiteri said.
The 35-year-old mother of one will celebrate Mother's Day with her mother and organ donor.
"I invited her and my father for lunch so that we can spend time together."
She admitted that there are no words to describe the gratitude she felt for her mother. "It is constantly on my mind. I do not know what I would have done if she had not given me her kidney."
Ms Spiteri has bought her mother a jumper. "I wish I had more to give her. But she loves clothes, and I think she will like this."
The young mother fell ill with Lupus when she was just 28, and the condition sucked the life out of both her kidneys. What followed were five excruciating years of almost daily dialysis to cleanse her blood since her kidneys had stopped working.
The ordeal also had an impact on her son, who was then just six years old. "He did not want to let me out of his sight," she said.
Ms Spiteri said her relationship with her son had changed since she regained her strength. "I can spend time playing with him. Before I was too tired and weak to do anything," she said.
Ms Fenech had offered a kidney to her daughter soon after she found out that she needed one. But the transplant could not be done immediately since Ms Spiteri's Lupus was very severe.
The two waited for some years until, on January 18, they were wheeled to surgery. Ms Spiteri spent days in intensive care, with her mother by her side. Even when Ms Fenech was well enough to go home, she asked to stay in hospital with her daughter.
"We left hospital together. Since then I have been improving steadily. Her gift changed my life totally."
Ms Spiteri said her relationship with her mother had grown much stronger since then. "I can never thank her enough. She gave me my life back."
Claudia Calleja writes about the pain Mother's Day can bring about
Today will not be an easy day for Claire* who will be constantly reminded about her inability to have children as the world marks Mother's Day.
Being a mother is all she ever wanted, but for the past six years she and her husband have been battling to become parents.
"On a day like today I even consider not going to Mass. All the priest talks about is mothers, and it hurts me too much," she said.
"Don't get me wrong. I celebrate Mother's Day since I too have a mother I adore. But a day like today rubs salt into my wounds. I wish society would be a bit more sensitive towards people like me. It hurts when all you want to do is love a child you just can't have," the 32-year-old said.
When Claire and her husband got married eight years ago, they waited for about two years before trying for a baby. But as months rolled on and she did not get pregnant, they started to worry.
Doctors first told them that he was infertile but, following further tests, they were told this was not the case and it was an unexplained infertility.
Following a failed IVF attempt, a recent diagnosis revealed that Claire has a hormone imbalance for which she is undergoing treatment.
As Claire sees friends and relatives around her having babies, she battles with the psychological repercussions and also has to fight off the sensitivity and mood swings caused by the treatment.
About two years ago, she found a shoulder to lean on when she discovered the Wanting and Waiting Support group within the Cana Movement.
"My family have been very supportive but the truth is they cannot possibly understand what me and my husband are going through unless they experience it," she says.
The support group offers personal counselling sessions for couples having problems conceiving at the Catholic Institute. Apart from that, group meetings are held every fortnight and couples share similar experiences and feelings.
This helps them feel understood and accepted and also helps them to find strength in themselves to get through difficult days like Mother's Day, Father's Day and similar events.
Couples who wish to contact the support group for further information can phone the Cana Movement on 2123 8068.
*Name has been changed
Mother's Day
Mother's Day celebrations date back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses Rhea. Ancient Romans also celebrated Cybele, a mother goddess.
The more recent history of Mother's Day dates back to the 1600s in England when Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the US, the feast emerged in the 1900s on the suggestion of Anna Jarvis who created the day that is now celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
Ms Jarvis, the ninth of 11 children, dedicated her life to fulfilling her mother's dream for recognition of the day for honouring mothers.
Though never a mother herself, the teacher is known as Mother of Mother's Day. Today the day is celebrated across some 46 countries.