Päevatee. Minu ema – Hille Tänavsuu

·1 hr 6 min·5 clips

Hille Tänavsuu's son reveals he is the third child, after a brother who died as an infant, shaping his relationship with his mother.

The episode is an interview with Hille Tänavsuu's son, Toivo, conducted by host Piret Kooli for the Vikerraadio show 'Päevatee' ahead of Mother's Day. Toivo begins by revealing he is the third child; an older brother died as an infant, a fact his mother discussed matter-of-factly when he was a teenager. He describes his mother, born in 1940, as a strong, non-complaining woman shaped by the Soviet era, who worked as a journalist in high-pressure roles while raising him and his brother. He recounts vivid childhood memories of summers at his grandmother's farm in Hageri, where physical labor and imaginative play coexisted. Toivo discusses his mother's influence on his education, including his involvement in a boys' choir and his eventual decision to study medicine. The central theme is her battle with cancer; she was diagnosed around age 65 and continued working as a reporter throughout treatment. Toivo notes she found hope in faith later in life, despite a Soviet atheist upbringing. He details how she prepared practically for death by organizing her archives and funeral plans, which brought peace to the family. The interview explores the founding of the Vähiravi Fond, initiated to help others access expensive cancer treatments after his mother received such support. Toivo reflects on her death in 2014, her burial at Hageri Cemetery, and how he perceives her presence not at the gravesite but in a better place. The conversation touches on broader themes of family cohesion, communication about difficult topics, and the balance between grief and gratitude.

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