That’s the thing, isn’t it? Our daughters who will never know our parent. I understand why your sister still mourns. In our society, children are ‘protected’ from their grief by the adults around them. Everyone in my family knew my mother’s illness was terminal, yet they assured me she would survive. I found out she was dying 6 days before the event on the day they took her to hospital via ambulance for the last time. I found out because I happened to overhear my father & my sisters talking.

We do better these days with that — at least. But there simply is no way to lessen this kind of pain & loss.

I am not surprised your sister became a nurse. I think many of us go into nursing to be a part of saving someone else’s family — so to dissipate the grief & helplessness we feel at not being able to save our own loved one.

James, I wish you & yours a very happy & safe 2022. ❤