Fifty years ago, my mom had breast cancer that eventually spread to her brain. The last time she went in for treatment, she was able to drive almost 200 miles, by herself, to get to M.D. Anderson. One week later, my uncle had to bring her back in a station wagon. She died that first night home. The treatment basically…

My great Aunt Gerri was diagnosed with leukemia last January. Instead of fighting it, due to her advanced age, she and her family decided that palliative care was the way to go and they brought in hospice care. She died two months later, but her pain was under control, she got to spend time with her grandkids and…