Some may say it’s a coincidence, but I believe it’s destiny that my mother chose to go into the field of radiation therapy, a profession with a foundation built on the scientific discoveries made by Madame Marie Curie. Upon reading these two books, I learned of the many similarities between Madame Curie and my mother. Views that I’m sure many daughters will share about their hardworking, career-driven mothers. Just a century ago, women were not believed to be capable of balancing a work life while being great mothers. Mme Curie showed different. According to the accounts recorded in these books by her friends and two daughters, she was just as outstanding when it came to parenting as she was with working in her laboratories. One of her daughters stated how she would constantly apologize for missing birthdays and other events that could be deemed “special”. She then followed by stating her mother would never miss the opportunity to challenge and develop their minds by sending them stimulating problems by mail just for fun. I’m sure many working mothers have had to miss such events. Even my mother stated in her ASRT Presidential address that she felt bad for missing some of my school events such as plays or being away on holidays while working for the advancement of our profession. I would always tell her how proud I was. She would always share new advancements in the profession with such enthusiasm. Her love of the field and sacrifice made her an even greater role model and mother to me. It challenged my way of thinking and paved the way for me following her footsteps and becoming a radiation therapist.

Mme Curie’s daughter Irene must have felt the same way as she went on to win a Nobel Prize just like her mother. When you have a mother who knows no boundaries or limits when it comes to advancing their profession, nothing is greater or quite as inspirational. And the fact that Mme Curie never even desired recognition (as neither did my mother) makes their work and dedication that more admirable. So many women have proven now that it’s not necessary to sacrifice your career to have a family. These women have been the backbone of my generation. I, a mother too, have been even more driven by having a child to continue to further my career. I want my son to be as proud of me as I am of my mother, as Irene and Eve are of Mme Curie, and even as their grandchildren are proud of them. Mme Curie’s granddaughter said “…she was a mother, a peacemaker, a humanitarian…” These are all characteristics I am sure my son will use to describe his grandmother (or “Mimi” as she likes him to call her). I would like to thank the ASRT and the National Library Partnership. It’s so rewarding to know the field I have chosen was built on the foundations of an exceptional woman’s discoveries. It’s even more rewarding to know my mother is one of the few professionals carrying her torch, speaking before Congress, traveling and advocating for radiologic technologists around the world, among many other things. I now have an even greater appreciation and respect for our founding mother Mme Curie and my mother, Sandra Hayden, one of the greatest assets the radiation therapy profession will ever see.