My mom's struggle valiantly against colon cancer but it had spread to the rest of her body. They tried radiation and chemotherapy which was hard on her body but none of it helped. I watched a beautiful woman become someone i did not recognize on the outside but her strength on the inside despite what the rest of us were doing was amazing and she truly was a wonderful person. She never let on how much she was hurting but you could tell from her face. She finally went downhill and was admitted to the hospital where the doctors told her there was nothing else that could be done. I argued against my dad and the doctors about sending her to a nursing home to no avail. I was only 19 and did not know any better according to them. That move to the nursing home was the final straw and she died soon after being put there. I was lucky enough to be with her when she took her final breaths, holding her hand and telling her that it was okay that i would look after my sisters. It is a sad memory but one i would never trade for the world because nothing is more special than being able to be with your parent and say goodbye.