Contentment washes over me at the moment as I watch my daughter play, a sense I wouldn’t have acknowledged only a few years in the past. Again then, I used to be in a relentless storm of challenges. I struggled with infertility and the grueling technique of IVF therapies. An ectopic being pregnant resulted in emergency surgical procedure, and for almost 5 years, I carried the burden of being separated from my mother on account of work, journey bans, visa functions, and the calls for of IVF. 
It was throughout the pandemic that my mother fell unwell with a relapsing mind tumor. The guilt and helplessness I felt being oceans away was insufferable. As my sister shouldered every part alone again dwelling, I used to be right here within the U.S., miles away, attempting my finest to help my mother throughout chemo classes as her situation deteriorated.
Months dragged by with no risk of getting a visa appointment. Then, in November 2021, in what appeared like a blessing from above, I secured a visa appointment to journey to India. Little did I do know this is able to turn out to be essentially the most heart-wrenching time of my life. A number of days earlier than my flight, I found I used to be pregnant — my coronary heart hovering with the considered sharing this treasured information with my mother in particular person! However the emotional storm was removed from over.
As soon as I landed in India, I confronted a life-threatening scenario on account of an ectopic being pregnant and was rushed into surgical procedure to take away my fallopian tube. Whereas recovering from my being pregnant loss and dealing with the diminished probabilities of conceiving once more, I noticed my mother. Although her once-sharp thoughts had pale into shadows, I discovered a bittersweet consolation in merely holding her hand, speaking to her softly, desperately hoping my phrases might nonetheless attain her. As I ready to return dwelling, destiny dealt its cruelest card — she was rushed to the ICU and handed away on the very day I used to be meant to go away. I’m not one to imagine in superstition, however in my coronary heart, I couldn’t assist feeling that the universe had someway stored her holding on simply lengthy sufficient for that closing goodbye.
This was a really darkish and overwhelming interval in my life. I used to be grappling with immense grief whereas additionally having to rehome my beloved cat of six years. It really felt like I used to be dropping everybody near me. This was all an excessive amount of to course of without delay.
However via all of it, there was one shiny gentle: the wonderful help I acquired from Cisco. My supervisor at the moment was nothing wanting a guardian angel. She went above and past, accommodating my chaotic schedule as I juggled work calls from parking heaps between fertility appointments. She labored with HR, making certain I might take the time I desperately wanted to be with my mother. Within the midst of such darkish occasions, her unwavering help felt virtually surreal — a uncommon gentle of kindness that allowed me to prioritize what really mattered: my bodily and psychological wellbeing and people treasured closing moments with my mother.
Even after experiencing unimaginable loss, Cisco’s compassionate tradition continued to uplift me. Once I miraculously turned pregnant naturally in 2022 and transitioned to a brand new function, my new staff, together with cross-functional colleagues, rallied round me with distinctive help and suppleness throughout my being pregnant. They have been extremely compassionate as I discovered new processes, gained information about supply enablement, and created new life inside me. My present staff is the #DreamTeam. All of us have one another’s backs, it doesn’t matter what. I fortunately went on maternity depart and transitioned again to work.
The versatile working hours at Cisco are a game-changer in my new motherhood journey. I can stability high quality time with my infant whereas sustaining my profession development, and my supportive staff even welcomes my child’s occasional appearances in digital conferences. This flexibility permits me to tackle thrilling new initiatives confidently, figuring out I can construction my work round my household’s wants with out compromising productiveness.
I’m so grateful for the energy Cisco’s help system gave me to outlive these darkest of occasions, and I’m proud to be a part of this glorious group. However most significantly, at the moment I have a look at my daughter’s smile, and it jogs my memory how far I’ve come. Overcoming private challenges generally is a transformative expertise. It’s throughout these durations of adversity that we uncover hidden reserves of energy and resilience. The storm might have been relentless, however on the opposite facet, I discovered an unbelievable gentle — the sunshine of motherhood and the unwavering help that helped me get right here.
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