I looked over at Dad and saw the pain in his eyes and immediately knew Mom was really sick. I had watched her over the last month or two, lose weight, get these dark circles under her eyes, and call in sick too work more times in one month than I had seen her do in 10 years. I couldn’t breathe. I could only stare, mouth hung open, tears waiting to spill.

I had never been so terrified. Mom went on to tell us about her breast cancer and that, yes, she had known, for several months. She had not yet decided what treatment she would accept, if any, and she now was ready to bring her family together and make a decision.