On Monday, February 20, 2012, at 9:15 in the morning, my mother passed away. Because I had dedicated this story to her long and brave fight with cancer, I felt it fitting to update those who had asked of her heath to say that despite beating all the odds the doctor gave her, she passed peacefully at last.

No matter how long someone has suffered, and no matter how sick they became at the end, there are few losses greater than that of your mother, when she was also your friend.

Thank you for your kind words as I wrote her story. It is true what is said, that God needed the angels for the work of his kingdom, so in their place on earth, he gave us Mothers instead.