THURSDAY MORNING MOM: Arlinda Calhoun

10/08/15-

Dear Tom,

My mom is the single mother of three (ages 18, 9 & 8) plus, she has 2 step children and 2 grandbabies. She loves taking the children to the library for reading dates and then to the park for playtime and fresh air.

When she was 18, she got a job with the IRS as a tax examiner right out of high school. It was a nice office job with 9 to 5 hours Monday thru Friday. The benefits were great and her paycheck never bounced thanks to Uncle Sam, but after 25 years of reviewing tax returns for accuracy & completeness – my mom retired at the age 43.

Shortly after, she went to the doctor for an annual checkup and they found early stages of colon cancer. As you know, early detection is key so she went through treatment and got chemo and she beat cancer! Now, at the age of 48 – my mom has been cancer free for 3 years.

One thing she has always enjoyed is cooking – for her family, for church functions & fundraisers and most recently, for the cancer patients at the clinic where she used to go when she was undergoing cancer treatment.

A chemo sessions can last up to 4 hours. Some patients live alone or don’t have family so she takes them her good cooking and keeps them company while sharing her experiences to help them through the process.

She wants to start a YouTube channel for her recipes but her dream is to have a cooking show on TV. I think some new pots & pans and a new oven would help motivate her.

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THURSDAY MORNING MOM: Arlinda Calhoun was originally published on blackamericaweb.com