Kamala Harris paid a heartfelt tribute to her mother when she remembered her for World Cancer Day on 4 February.
The Vice President, 56, confessed that, despite her beloved mother’s career trying to discover a cure for the disease, it was cancer which took her life.
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In a poignant Instagram post, Kamala shared a sweet childhood photo with her mum, along with an emotional message.
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"My mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, came to this country with a dream: to cure cancer," she wrote. "She became a breast cancer scientist and worked for decades in the lab to advance the fight against the deadly disease.
"It was a shock when she told us in 2008 that she herself was diagnosed with colon cancer - and a great sadness when she passed away a year later.
"I miss her every day. I know the President, First Lady, and so many Americans understand that loss.
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© Photo: InstagramKamala shared a photo with her mother who she lost last year
"My mother wouldn’t want us to give up on her dream. @potus and I believe we are closer to a cure than ever before. On this World Cancer Day, we are committed to supporting the scientists, researchers, and health care workers who devote their lives - as my mother did - to helping fight this disease. Together, we can put an end to cancer."
Her post received more than a million likes and she was showered with love and support from her followers and people whose lives have been impacted by the disease.
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"She would be so proud," wrote one, while another said: "I wouldn’t have survived breast cancer if it wasn't for the scientists," wrote another and many more sent kind words, on what is a difficult day for Kamala and her family.
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