@mattem......my mother passed away in 1992 from breast cancer . I was by her side through the entire 3 years she fought the big "C". She lost her battle ......my mother & I were not close when I was growing up , my father & mother were divorced when I was 5 & my father won custody of us kids . Till I was 10 I never saw my mother again , then she called & wanted to see me every other week-end. I was excited till I found out she wanted me to watch my little 1/2 brother so she could have a free sitter . But I agreed & so went every other week-end till I was 17 . When I started working a real job I made sure I remembered her birthday & mothers day & always sent flowers on sweetest day . I took her out to dinner every Sunday after church & even managed to take her to several dinner theatres before she became too ill to go .It was a relief when she passed , not because we never got along but because she was no longer in pain . Before she passed she told me " I loved you even though you were a girl " , so I finally knew why we never got along & why my brothers were her favorites . I still forgave her & I was the one that stayed by her side till the end . I was the one that held her hand till it turned cold & she was no longer on this earth. I still wish she were here even though she never had a kind word to say to me , I still wish I could call her & ask "how are you doing today mom?" I guess I'm still hoping after all these years that she would except me for the caring daughter I was , now it's too late , but I still have the satisfaction of knowing I was the one that was there till the end , not my brothers , her favorites . That does bring me comfort knowing I gave it my all right till the end.So grin & bear it , you never know when the end will come for you or her & you will know that you gave it your all. 4951