Mara Shah

I have a beautiful story to share—a journey of strength, courage, love, and perseverance that ended with an unexpected miracle.

Growing up, I had a kind, overprotective mother who loved me more than life itself. My mother, Mara, immigrated from Bosnia-Herzegovina, and we learned English together after school. Despite being on welfare, she was incredibly generous, often giving others the jacket off her back. She walked me to and from school every day, brought me lunch, and wore a constant smile. I felt deeply loved and special, especially when wearing the clothes she knitted just for me, like my favorite red and blue dress.

Mara fought battles that were invisible to others, which intensified over the years and ultimately led to our separation when I was 13. My grandmother, “Baba Boja,” then took me in and raised me. Though I was initially a handful, I eventually graduated from UWM with degrees in Spanish Literature (serving as Vice President of the honor society) and Psychology, traveled to 14 countries, and built the meaningful freelance career I had always envisioned for myself. I credit my mother for my resilience, artistic skills, and determination.

For years, it felt like I lost my mom to schizophrenia. However, when she was diagnosed with cancer last October, we experienced an unexpected silver lining. Through her treatments, her psychiatric medications were finally stabilized, and the Mom I had missed since I was five years old resurfaced!

We didn’t waste a single moment of the last 10 months; we spent every day together. She returned to her sweet, funny self, and we experienced so much for the first time together as mother and daughter. We tried everything at Starbucks and ate our weight in Kopp’s frozen custard daily. She tried cheese curds for the first time—a true Wisconsin rite of passage. There were spa nights and weekend pajama slumber parties. We truly fit a lifetime of quality time into this golden period, and my heart expanded from it.

The best gift you can give someone is an amazing memory, and it’s never too late to create one.

Mom, it was the privilege of a lifetime being your daughter.

1/27/1945-8/26/2026 🥀 

Ja tebem volim uvijec, Majka Moja, Mara Shah. ❤️, 

Tvoja Cerka, 

Neda Stevic