MY MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER THAT HAD MOVED TO THE SPINE, AND STOMACH. WITHOUT A LOT OF DETAIL, IT WAS A VERY PAINFUL. MY SISTER AND I TOOK CARE OF HER WITH THE HELP OF HOSPICE. IT WAS EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY DRAINING.  ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE. DURING THE TREATMENT MY MOTHER WAS RECEIVING, (CHEMOTHERAPY), WE WOULD TRAVEL A FEW MILES TO THE HOSPITAL EACH DAY. ON ONE OF HER BETTER DAYS WE STOPPED TO HAVE SOME LUNCH. I SPOKE WITH MY MOTHER ABOUT DEATH AT LUNCH THAT DAY. I TOLD HER THAT IF ANYTHING WAS TO HAPPEN TO HER THAT I WOULD WORRY ABOUT HER. I ASKED HER IF THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT SHE COULD, TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WAS OKAY. SHE LOOKED AT ME AND PROMISED IF SHE COULD SHE WOULD LET ME KNOW. ILL NEVER FORGET THE SINCERE LOOK IN HER EYES. SHE KNOWS IM A WORRIER. I NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT THIS. SHE PASSED AWAY WITH ALL OF US AT THE HOUSE. WE WERE ALL ASLEEP. I WAS SUDDENLY AWAKENED WITH A JOLT AND INSTINCTIVELY KNEW THAT SHE WAS GONE. SHE WAS. IT WAS ALMOST A RELIEF AS WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER LIKE THAT ANYMORE. MY HUSBAND AND I PRAYED AT HER BEDSIDE THE NIGHT OF HER DEATH.  TWO OR THREE WEEKS LATER MY HUSBAND INSISTED WE GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GO TO LAKE TAHOE A FAVORITE PLACE OF OURS TO VISIT. MY MOTHER LOVED IT THERE TOO.  AFTER AN ADVENTUROUS DAY, WE FELL ASLEEP IN OUR HOTEL. AFTER ABOUT THREE HOURS OF SLEEP MY HUSBAND AWOKE ME. HE SAID HE NEEDED TO TALK TO ME. AFTER WAKING MYSELF UP, I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS VERY UPSET. VISIBLY SHAKEN AND GOOSE BUMPS ALL OVER HIS BODY. WHEN HE KNEW WE WERE BOTH COMPLETELY AWAKE HE SAYS THAT HE HAD A DREAM AND WAS TOLD TO WAKE ME UP AND TELL ME ABOUT IT. HE SAID HE SAW MY MOTHER IN HER BED AND SHE WAS NOT ALIVE. HE THEN SAW A MAN STANDING NEXT TO HER. THE MAN REACHED OUT TO HIM WITH A PAIR OF HEADPHONES AND GESTURED FOR HIM TO PUT THEM ON. HE DID. THEN HE SAID HE HEARD MY  MOTHERS VOICE SAY, I HAVE GONE TO THE OTHER SIDE AND I AM FINE DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. WE WILL ALL BE REUNITED. AND THAT WAS IT. HE SAYS THAT HER VOICE WAS HERS BUT UNLIKE ANY EARTHLY VOICE HE HAS EVER HEARD. SO CALM AND SERENE. HE ALSO SAID HE NEVER , EVER HAS HAD A DREAM LIKE THAT BEFORE. NOT ONE IN WHICH HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO WAKE SOMEONE UP AND TALK ABOUT IT.  AFTER THIS I COMFORTED HIM AND THANKED HIM. I TOLD HIM OF THE LUNCH THAT DAY WITH MY MOM AND HER PROMISE TO ME. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT SHE SPOKE TO ME THROUGH MY HUSBAND AND ANSWERED MY REQUEST. IT WAS A LAST GIFT FROM HER AND THE BEST I HAVE EVER RECEIVED.  THE NEXT DAY I FELT AS IF A BURDEN HAD BEEN LIFTED. I KNEW MY MOTHER WAS FINE AND THE GRIEF SEEMED TO LEAVE. I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE CHOSE TO DO THIS THROUGH MY HUSBAND BUT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE ARE EASIER TO REACH THAN OTHERS. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS CAME FROM HER. IT HAS MADE ME NOT AS AFRAID OF DEATH AS I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE AFTER OUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH. I FEEL I NEEDED TO SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS SO THEY WILL KNOW THAT TOO.  WE WILL ALL BE REUNITED.