For those who need to feel better.

Hello, my name is Arturo Scolamacchia and I'm an Airman in the USAF. In mid november my mother was diagnosed with Colon cancer that had also spread to her liver. I was told this news by her when I took leave the following december around christmas. What a gift right? Anyway, me and my mother had always been close. You could definatly call me a mamma's boy and i'd agree openly. It is now April, I'm 19 years old and I am staioned in Osan AB, South Korea and am thousands of miles away from her. We communicate almost everyday through skype which is difficult because of the time difference (i'm 13 hours ahead). She just told me anout an hour ago that she was going to go back to Italy to be with her family and a more advanced cancer center. She also told me the doctors said that she had maybe a year left. Right now as I'm typing this, I don't really feel sad or angry because I can't afford to. My duty is more important and the mission must be accomplished. So I try to put aside my emotions so they don't affect my performance. It's not easy. Especially when I see reminders everywhere. What I'm trying to do is just let all the other victims of this hellish experience know that you are never alone. And I don't just mean others as in other people with parents who are dying, but I mean the actual victims. I'm going to be here in Osan for a year and hopefully I will be able to take leave to see her one more time. Sometimes I think I'm lucky that I don't have to see her this way all the time. Like I pretend that she's all better when not on the computer. But the truth of the matter is that the next time I see my mother she'll probably be gone. If any of you out there can meet, see, or hold that person dear to you please, for me, just do it. If you're reading this post, Get up and hug your mom or dad or whoever. Get a recording of them and make sure you're in it. They are still there. Evenif they can't hear you or see you. Or even if they're already gone, visit they're place of rest. I just regret possibly never holding her ever again so I want to make sure no one makes my mistake. As for me, I'll be alright. My mother is strong. Her cancer might take her life but her spirit cannot be broken. She constantly tells me that the thing she fears most about her death is me and how I will handle it. She worries more about me that herself. I made a promise to her that no matter what the outcome of this nightmare, I will always keep my future as my top priority. I feel so selfish saying this but she forced me to swear on her on her life and ultimately on her grave. And like her I will not break. She will pass on now or later, either way I will take what she has taught me and surive. She is and always will be in my heart and my mind. But not as my mother who is dying of cancer, but as my mom slapping my behind if I even think about doing anything stupid, crying out of pride as I strive to rise above, and smiling as I live my life in her memory taking her spirtit with me wherever I go. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Now excuse me, I have a UCI (Unit Compliance Inspection) all next week so I need my sleep. Gotta impress the Commander. Good luck and God Bless.