How does one deal with the loss of someone they love. February 21, 2011 I lost my mother to lung cancer. I was in the middle of my semester at school and decided to stay in school and finish out the semester. My mom lived with me for the last five years. I cared for her. Brought her back to life. Helped her see that she still had things to do and helped her do a lot of those things. I was so lucky to have that time with my mom. Helping her do a lot of the things on her bucket list. We started that list before she became ill with lung cancer. She started painting again and realized that she was talented and that she still loved it. Something she use to do when I was a kid. She went skydiving even though she was so scared of heights she would get dizzy on the balcony. In her 69 years of her life she had never been on a real vacation. Her last year of her life she got to go to the Bahamas twice!! The first time I went with her and my Aunt Donna and we took her to swim with the dolphins. She was like a kid that entire trip and no matter how tired she was or how bad she was feeling it didn't stop her from enjoying the entire trip. The second time she went with Aunt Donna, her boyfriend Owen, her partner in crime and who took her on this trip and my Aunt Joyce. She played so hard she was barely walking when she got home. She also got to go zip lining with a group of family members. Those stairs just about killed her but the joy we all witnessed is something none of us will forget. Mom was also my biggest supporter when it came to filmmaking and photography. Everyone one of her kids were artistic in some way but me until I found those two outlets. She was so proud of me for going to college and finding a passion that her and I could work on together. She was in my first short film and worked on or gave me advice on all my projects. She got to see the film she was in on the big screen and she loved seeing her name up there. She was great in it too!! She took direction well and always worked with me on my visions. I will miss her input on my projects. She encouraged me in so many ways in all those areas. Most of all for anyone that got a chance to know her loved her tell it like it is talks. The woman honestly had no filter what so ever and you couldn't help but love her for it. I am lucky! Lucky to have had such an amazing, strong, encouraging, and loving mother. I may not have had that much in my life as a kid but as an adult we made up for all the time we lost over the years. I love you mom and I know you are with me and Im staying strong because of what you taught me. RIP Nancy C Cooper!!
