Captains’ Corner | Vice Captain, Luke Ames

When I was only in Year 3, I found myself in the middle of a situation that has forever changed my life.

I remember faint lights lighting up the corridor as I took strained, almost regretful steps forward. I was on the way to say goodbye to my dad. All I could hear was the constant beeping from the life support machines droning in the background as I looked at my dad on his deathbed. With my heart feeling as if it was going to explode out of my chest, I stepped forward with shaking hands and said my last goodbyes.

When I look back on this moment, what stands out to me isn’t how I felt. It wasn’t how the room looked or even how my head seemed to swirl with every sound the clock on the wall made. Instead, what stands out in my mind is the support offered to me, especially from my Mum.

In what would have been the darkest moment of her life, she stepped into a dual-parent role, protecting and comforting us every minute she was with us. I distinctly remember the warmth of my Mum’s hand as we apprehensively approached the beeping sounds. I distinctively remember the hugs and talks that we had in the car every day that we came back from the hospital. I distinctively remember all of the trips to the vending machine across the corridor from the ICU and the laughs that followed from Mum as we begged for more than one treat.

Now nine years on from his miraculous recovery, my dad is often called inspirational by people he meets. But what most people don’t see is our Mum. Her actions displayed in a crisis were selfless. During the year my dad was in hospital, I did not miss one day of school, one sporting event or one friend’s birthday party.  I remember going to bed one night when my dad was in hospital, looking at my exhausted Mum lying next to me.  Her heavy eyes slammed shut as soon as her head hit the pillow.  But every day she was around us, I felt hopeful for the future. Everything was going to be okay.

The past nine years have been more than okay – the continuous stream of selfless decisions by my Mum have made it that way.  During late night study sessions, the hot chocolates, the free uber trips all over the city, the encouraging voice whenever I needed it have all allowed me to Answer the Call. Her selfless acts that often go unnoticed by my siblings and me continue to motivate us to be the best that we can be.

This Mother’s Day, Answer the Call to be like mothers. The ones who drive us in at 4am for Rowing training, proofread our shocking English assignments plagued by a mountain of spelling errors and do it all for nothing in return. The world really does need more mothers.

This Mother’s Day, Answer the Call to show gratitude for everything that your Mum does.