My mom's first words to me after breast cancer surgery

Were raspy from dehydration and having a breathing tube down her throat. She sounded like one of the sisters from the Simpsons when she spoke.

As she was pointing to her newly implanted D cup breasts, she asked me "Are you jealous?"

I was about 13 and I'm pretty sure my cup size was in the negatives, but these words eased any worry I had about her having the surgery in the first place. Now that she was mocking me, I knew she was fine.

This was my first recollection of many, many encounters with cancer within my family and it was the best outcome I could ever hope for.