The journey of embracing life: Mothers' perspectives of living with their children with retinoblastoma

•The finding reveals how mothers from a sense of unacceptability to accept challenges and gain inner strength.•Awareness changes and demands, and keep moving forward can help mothers develop positive coping for caring for a child with cancer.•Psychological adjustment and religious beliefs are key elements in mothers' journeys toward embracing life.•The findings can provide guidance for assessment on mothers' coping and be useful in guiding intervention development.