Your Stories

Albany, LA 70711, USA on the 19th of February, 1991, at 10:00am

By Amanda LeBouef

I ordered my Star Map for my mother for Mother’s Day, since my previous order blew me away, and once again I was not disappointed and the gift left her and I both in tears.

My mom didn’t give me life by carrying me or giving birth to me, no she gave me life by taking in a 10 day old infant born to an addict. She then adopted me and by being so selfless and loving she GAVE me the chance to have a life!

This woman has been my rock and even during her battle with cancer, when I thought I was being strong for her, I was wrong she was the strong one, holding me and the family together.

I was only able to get a picture of the moment I gave her the map, attempting to avoid close contact because I am a nurse and could possibly transfer COVID infection to her, but the picture says it all. Many tears were shed by her and I when she saw it and realized exactly what it was, but the tears were of happiness. The map is of a heart with the title of “Legally yours day 02/19/1991”, the day that the adoption was finalized after many years of battling for it.

Under the heart has the lines:
“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I am living my mommy you’ll be”
from the children’s book written by Robert Munsch. She read this book to me, I read it to my children and have realized through the years just how true those lines are.