The doctors in New Mexico had told me I needed to start aggressive treatment, in a city, at a major medical center.”

“You left your treatment to raise my baby?” I could barely form the words.

“No, sweetie.

I worked it out so I could get my treatment right here in Phoenix, at the medical center, while I stayed with you.

That part was real; I wasn’t neglecting myself for you, not at first.” She paused.

“But then I got here.

And I saw how frightened you were, and how hard David was working, and how tiny Maya was.

And I decided that whatever time and strength I had left, I wanted to spend it here.