One Saturday, thirteen-year-old Tim was hanging out with friends at a cafe when his mother, Gloria, decided to surprise him by inviting him to a superhero movie. She wanted to spend more time with him, but when she arrived at the cafe, Tim’s friends teased him about his mother, and he scolded her for embarrassing him. Ignoring her, he refused to leave with her.

Feeling hurt, Gloria returned home, hoping Tim would join her for dinner. When he finally came home late, Tim brushed past her without acknowledging her presence. Gloria knocked on his door, offering dinner and expressing concern about their strained relationship. Tim lashed out, saying she embarrassed him and questioning why she even had him.

Hurt by his words, Gloria worried about him but was met with Tim’s anger. He grabbed his backpack and rode off on his bike, leaving Gloria devastated. She fainted outside their neighbor’s house.

Later that night, the neighbor confronted Tim, revealing that Gloria had a heart attack because of the stress he caused her. She handed him a folder with his adoption papers and medical documents, explaining how much Gloria sacrificed for him, including taking out a loan for his surgery.

Overwhelmed with guilt, Tim rushed to the hospital to see his mother. He found her in the intensive care unit and tearfully apologized, promising to spend more time with her. After two months, Gloria recovered but needed to change her lifestyle to prevent another heart attack. Tim joined her in preparing heart-healthy meals and exercising every day.

**Lessons learned from this story:**

1. **Cherish your loved ones**: Tim realized too late the importance of spending time with his mother and changed his behavior after understanding her sacrifices.

2. **Parents hide their pain**: Tim was unaware of the extent of Gloria’s sacrifices until he faced the reality of her health crisis.