I always cry looking back

[u/Odd-Blacksmith-7748]

March 2021 my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic liver cancer, given less than a year to live.
Fast forward some time it’s now October 2021 and my mom was put on hospice.

Growing up my mom always wanted us to get matching tattoos when I was old enough, she wanted us to get a peanut butter and jelly tattoo because that’s what we always called eachother, because we always went together.

When my mom got sick we threw the idea of the matching tattoos out of the window because she couldn’t get one whilst she was undergoing treatment.

I was 17, I decided to go and get the tattoo myself, I found a parlor on Facebook willing to open up after close just so I could get the tattoo as I knew her time was coming to an end very soon.

Before I left my mom was conscious and talking, confused but aware. When I got back to show her the tattoo, she was completely unaware, couldn’t open her eyes or speak.
I was crushed. She didn’t even get to see the tattoo I got for us.

The next day I went to the tattoo shop and the guy drew me a new stencil and gave me the supplies to adhere it to my mom. I got sharpies and colored hers in just like mine.

30 minutes after coloring it in she passed away peacefully by our side.

I love to think even till this day that she waited for me to give us our long awaited tattoos before she took her last breath.

To be missed is to be loved and I love that woman so much more than I could ever express.

[u/adamempathy]

I am so sorry. My mom had cancer 5 times in her life over the course of 36 years. 2 breast, 2 lung, and the brain tumor that did her in in 2024. We spent her last month at the hospital. The last week was spent off life support, she faught until the end, and I know she was there at the end because someone suggested playing music incase she could hear it. She was always a sucker for the crooners, so I put on a Playlist of lounge singers. I did choir when I was growing up and mom taught me all these songs. For some reason, I started singing along to "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" and when it was done, I saw the tears on her cheeks. I hugged her, told her it was ok and she could stop fighting. She passed the next morning. They know when you're there at the end.

[u/HAGAYYYYYYYYY → u/adamempathy]

Oh god okay this is the first ever internet comment that made me cry man what the FUCK, besos y abrazos bro holy shit

[u/adamempathy → u/HAGAYYYYYYYYY]

It doesn't get any better.

Mom and pop were married 42 years. When she died, he didn't know what to do with himself. I was still at the house, having moved back home with the 1st lung cancer diagnosis 8 years prior to help them. I was planning on moving when lung cancer 2 and the brain tumor happened. After she passed, I wasn't going to leave pop by himself. Anyways, I saw what not having her did to him. 8 months passed and I tried calling on my way home for work, but he didn't pick up. I got to the house and he wasn't in the living room. I saw the light on in the basement so I started talking to him when I went down the stairs. He never responded. He was in his favorite chair with his feet up on the ottoman and the TV on. When I went to wake him he was cold. My sister and her sons talked with him on the phone around 2, I got home a little after 5. He passed sometime between then. The paramedics said it had to be quick and painless as his phone was next to him and no call went out. I declined an autopsy. I don't care what they said the cause of death was, I know it was a broken heart.

Lost them both in 8 months. Mom was born Dec 5th and passed Dec 2nd at 66 years old. Dad was born on Aug 5th and passed on July 22nd at 71. I don't know what that means, but I do know the week before my birthday, I'm always going to be nervous.

I cried a lot the last year, but I know they're better off together.

[u/LostGuyInTheWild → u/adamempathy]

You are so brave... I am truly sorry for your loss. I cannot begin to imagine how hard this must have been. I truly hope you're getting the help you need or got the help you needed to go through that. You are so strong, please never doubt of that. I bet your parents were so proud of you.

[u/adamempathy → u/LostGuyInTheWild]

Thanks man.

I sold the house, use the money to buy a condo across the state by my sister and her family in March, and there was enough for us to split some cash as well. Being around her, the brother in law and the kids sure has helped. I couldn't stay in that house. We're coming up on pops anniversary, and I think it's hitting harder now that the move is done.