A Mother's Day Tribute
Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, represents District 15 in Clay County, Missouri. She serves on the Budget, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Children and Families Committees in the Missouri House of Representatives. Her mother, Debra Ahern, DO, graduated from KCU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1991.
Three years ago, I was talking with my mom about whether I should jump into a crowded field to run for an open seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.
“I think you should,” was all my mom responded.
At the time, I was teaching at her alma mater, North Kansas City High School, and my husband and I had 3 kids, 5 years and under. My mom was stopping by to drop off some groceries. I went on to list all the reasons that was an insane answer and again my mom said, “Maggie, I think you should.”
I should have expected this response from the woman who started medical school with 4 daughters, 9 years and younger, at home. She is a woman who is no stranger to breaking down barriers – and no stranger to moving mountains while chasing tough dreams.
My mom’s love of learning has always propelled her. After graduating from Mizzou in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, great grades, recommendations and a high score on the MCAT, she applied to medical school. She was not admitted because the school had already met their quota of women for that year – just 10.
With her dreams of being a doctor on hold, she went home to Kansas City. She had learned well the value of hard work from her parents. My grandpa was a career firefighter for KCFD and a house painter on his days off, while my grandma worked tirelessly raising their six children. My mom decided to earn her teaching certificate, married my dad, and began teaching biology and chemistry at Paseo High School in KCMO. Watching my dad build his law practice, she decided to switch careers, and she enrolled in law school at UMKC. My mom was sworn in as an attorney in 1979, while the judge’s clerk held her infant daughter.
Fast forward a few more years and dreams of attending medical school resurfaced. While taking one of her foster kids to a clinic run by University Health Sciences, she observed “older” medical students at work and began inquiring about what it would take to attend. She took the MCAT again, did well, and in 1988, she finally started medical school.
She ended up graduating near the top of her class, certainly the top student with 4 young daughters at home. Twenty years after being denied admittance to medical school because she was a woman, my mom was starting her family practice residency.
At 71, my mom is still practicing family medicine. She started her medical career by opening and operating the Northland Healthcare Access Clinic for Swope Health for 5 years, but since then she has been at the same hospital where she completed her residency, University Health Lakewood Medical Center.
When I think of my mom, it’s hard to think of just one word to describe her. Wife, mom, aunt, grandma, doctor, lawyer and teacher. Add in bonus “mom” and “grandma” to many nieces and nephews, foster children and foreign exchange students. And in her spare time, she is a community and church volunteer, master cake decorator, family trip organizer, expert doodler and an always striving musician.
She is the mom I was embarrassed of when she came to my middle school’s career day and she had to explain many times that yes, in fact she was a doctor, a lawyer and a teacher. The same mom who has always reminded me that yes, you can be a mom and break down barriers.
Growing up, I saw my mom as the ultimate multitasker, negotiator, empathizer, and problem solver. Like lots of moms, she seemed to move mountains every day. Witnessing her resolve, I, too, gained a love of learning and a commitment to public education. I also inherited her passion for service and her dedication to fight for public health and increase access to health care.
Mom, thanks for being a great mom and champion for all of us girls. Your passion and love lives in us, your grandkids, and countless others who have been graced by your service.
Happy Mother’s Day.
We love you,
Maggie