I'm an only child. I lost my real dad at the age of 2..my mom was it..she was all I had. We were a team. She was there to pick me up, cheer me on, make me laugh, & love me unconditionally. She was my biggest fan & best friend. She was sick my whole life...in & out of hospitals with Crohns & Colitis. I almost lost her 4 times throughout my life...but she always came thru it. The day before I gave birth to my precious boy, I spoke to her, we laughed while she told me the story of how I came into the world (she was trying to calm my nerves). She couldn't wait to meet little Aiden. The next day..only dad (stepdad) showed up at the hospital. Mom had taken a turn & was too sick to make it up there. That was April 2, 2009. Fast forward to the next weekend..Easter came, she was doing better..but my baby was acting like he didn't feel very well, so we stayed home & I talked to mom on the phone for a bit. Then came another turn...dad called the Wednesday before she died & said "She's not doing very well, y'all ought to come see her." Well I was exhausted, & I'd gotten this call a LOT in the past..she always ended up ok. Dad didn't sound any different in this call than before, nor had he told me that it was so bad the home health nurses brought a special bed to make her comfortable. I already planned on seeing her on friday so my husband & I stuck to that plan. Friday morning came...no news...I was rocking Aiden to sleep when my husband came home at lunch time (he never does that). He took Aiden, handed him to his mother who was staying with us for a few days, & then broke the news. My dad called him...mom passed away that Friday morning at 11am. I never got to say goodbye & had the chance. 22 days after giving birth I lost the 1st most important person in my life. God works in mysterious ways bc without my kiddo...I would have fallen completely down the rabbit hole. I still am unable to keep tears from falling when thinking of her...& I am still so angry with myself for not taking dads call more seriously. I just pray that one day I'll be able to feel whole again...& I also pray that my own Rheumatoid Arthritis &fibromyalgia don't take me away from my baby by the age of 47. I'm 31 now..& I want to see my baby have babies & enjoy them. Mom got to hold Aiden 2 times..each time for less than 5 minutes bc she was so sick. That can't be my fate as well.