For most of my life, I saw myself as the quiet one, introverted, uncertain, and always looking for approval. I spent years questioning my worth, doubting my voice, and shrinking myself to make space for everyone else. I didn’t know who I really was… until my son Phillip was diagnosed with Menkes, a terminal disease.
That moment changed everything. I remember the day he was diagnosed vividly: the fear, the confusion, the overwhelming grief. But something unexpected happened during that darkness. Without thinking, I changed.
Gone was the timid woman who second- guessed herself. In her place stood a lioness, a mother on a mission, a version of me I had never met before. I was focused and ready to do whatever it took for my baby Phillip.
Becoming Phillip’s Warrior
I am originally from Colombia, but I live in Sydney, Australia. When we received Phillip’s diagnosis, I was far from the comfort of my home country and most of my family. My husband, heartbroken by the news, struggled to cope, and that’s okay. We all process pain differently. But the reality was that I had to carry most of the weight myself.
My mum gave me emotional support, and I had a few amazing friends. But in those early days, I didn’t know anyone close to me, family or friend who had gone through something like this. I felt like I was navigating this rare and painful journey completely alone, and that kind of loneliness is something you carry in your bones.
Still, I never let Phillip feel it. I became everything he needed: caregiver, advocate, therapist, nurse, voice. I made calls, chased down doctors, learned medical terms, gave treatments and comforted him through sleepless nights. Everything I did was rooted in love. It wasn’t easy, but it was never a question. Because when your child needs you, love gives you the strength to rise.
Finding My People
A few months after Phillip’s diagnosis, something beautiful happened. I met my dear friend Nicole and her beautiful son, Beau. Our boys shared the same diagnosis, Menkes disease. In her, I found understanding, comfort and connection. She just got it.
The pain, fears, the strength we were forced to find. Having someone who truly understood the road I was walking changed everything. I no longer felt like I was carrying it all alone. Later, through our time at palliative care house for kids, I met other families who were also going through incredibly difficult experiences. These connections, though built on shared grief, became anchors of support and compassion. I no longer felt isolated. It was a reminder that, even in the hardest moments, we are never truly alone.
A New Version of Me
Looking back now, I can barely recognize the woman I used to be, the one who thought she wasn’t enough.
The one who doubted her worth and stayed quiet to avoid taking up space. That woman is gone.
What remains is someone who found strength she didn’t even know existed. Someone who, despite the immense loneliness and pain, stood tall for her little son Phillip who mattered most.
Phillip gave me that strength. He never asked for it, he simply needed love, and giving him all of mine, I discovered a new version of myself, stronger, louder, braver and more alive than ever before.
Love That Transforms
To any mother or parent who is in the thick of it, caring for a child through illness, navigating the unknown, or facing what feels unbearable, I want you to hear this: You are stronger than you think.
Even when you feel broken, no one understands, that you are walking the path alone, love will carry you. It will transform you, and through it, you’ll find a version of yourself you never imagined possible. Because this is the kind of strength that only love can bring out.
I will always be proud of the mum I became for Phillip. Thank you for reading my story. If you’re a parent or caregiver on a similar journey, please know that you are not alone. I’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building this circle of support, strength and love 💛