Many mothers know that once you have kids, everything changes. Your world no longer revolves around you, but rather around the new person you’ve brought into your life.
As Suthreeranan heard the words “You have stage 4 breast cancer,” her mind didn’t rush to the uncharted road ahead or the personal turmoil it may cause. She thought of her three children and how much they count on her. “I have kids. I have to be okay, they need their mom,” she thought. During her first appointment at NY Cancer & Blood Specialists, Suthreeranan’s care team reassured her that while she looked after her children, they would look after her. “I’m gonna’ take care of you, okay?” said Dr. Nyatanga, her oncologist. Dr. Nyatanga has strongly lived up to her promise, calling Suthreeranan with test results, answering her questions, and remaining calm and steady even in times of uncertainty.
Instead of chemo, Suthreeranan’s treatment consists of routine injections and daily pills. While these have introduced a variety of painful side effects, including carpal tunnel, trouble sleeping, and reduced bone density, Suthreeranan chooses to look at the positives in the unexpected changes her body undergoes. She now enjoys food even more than before, claiming, “everything tastes so good!” Foods she previously hated, such as mushrooms, are now some of her favorites.
Like many households, the second you walk into Suthree’s home, you’re met with the sounds of a happy home. Movies playing on the T.V, Suthree on the phone with a loved one, her youngest daughter playing on her tablet, and who could forget Moomoo’s occasional bark and Chakeaw and Cafae’s purrs… (secretly Suthree’s favorite family members). While many dream of peace and quiet after a long day of treatment, Suthreeranan’s home is exactly how she likes it. The energy is her fuel, and her family is her motivation.
Suthreeranan is a mom to 3 kids (2 girls and 1 boy) and 4 animals (2 cats, 1 dog, and 1 not-so-tiny turtle). She is also a wife to her husband and a daughter to her parents, who currently live in Thailand. As you may imagine, her life is anything but slow. From making time to visit her oldest daughter, who has now moved out, to working as a server, to caring for her youngest daughter with autism, busy would be an understatement for the lifestyle she carries. Throw cancer into the mix, and you’re just about at a mental maximum. For Suthree, however, strength comes from within. “Everything is in your mind,” she says, “You can cry, but you gotta’ get back up.” Suthreeranan often spends her days on her feet or in the car, taking her youngest daughter to and from school, and making it to all her lab appointments and follow-ups on the schedule. Even during her breaks, she keeps the day's momentum going by singing or busting a move and posting it on TikTok. “I’m always dancing.. I dance as if nothing is happening.
Suthreeranan’s oncologist, Dr. Nyantanga, describes her as “the most positive… encouraging… optimistic person” she knows, “you walk in and you just smile,” she tells Suthree. Suthree’s joy is undeniable and has made her quite the celebrity at NY Cancer & Blood Specialists. During her office visits, Suthree is regularly found talking with other patients, offering advice and encouragement, and sometimes just serving as a joyful distraction.
Suthreeranan’s positive spirit is rooted in her family and their support. Suthree’s husband often serves as a shoulder for her to lean on and a safe space when she needs a moment to rest. Despite the distance in miles, Suthreeranan’s parents also call her daily, checking in on her and making sure their baby is doing well, too. Suthreeranan’s greatest source of strength, however, is her kids. They give Suthree something no other person or thing does: true purpose. Like most mothers, whether it’s sports games, school drop-offs, or calls for life advice, her children rely on her. They give her a reason to keep going and to continue fighting each day.
So often, motherhood is defined by its challenges. Those that can include the exhaustion of daily tasks, the weight of raising another human being. Feeling overwhelmed is an experience all moms go through. Yet, being a mother isn’t just a job. It’s a spirit. An attitude. A privilege. It’s a source of strength when your body has little left to give. It’s hope even when times are at their toughest. “All kids need their mom,” Suthreeranan says, so “think positive.” Not just for your kids, but for your own sake as well.
