It was an exceedingly difficult situation for a mother when her 10 yr old son suddenly worsened during the night. Having endured months of radiation and chemotherapy for metastatic brain tumor, there was no hope for a cure. Throughout his months of treatment, his mother frantically clung to hope that by some miracle her son would be cured.

This admission was for a routine and minor issue. Mom was used to dealing with her son's response to treatments, no matter how difficult to manage. As his condition became more and more hopeless over the last few months, she and the patient's father seemed to refuse to accept the grim possibility that there may become a time when he would not recover and go home with them. His mother seemed convinced this night that her son was having a reaction to a medication causing him to become agitated, confused and restless. Instead, all indicators pointed to progression of the tumor.

Throughout the night the nurse found herself in a unique position to not only partner with his mother but to comfort and support her during what would become the most difficult night of her life. Georgia had cared for this patient and family numerous times throughout his illness and knew the parent's challenge to accept his poor prognosis and withdrawal from treatment. Knowing the possibility of his impending death, Georgia helped the mother understand that her son was coming to the end of his journey. As the sun rose the next morning, the mother cradled the child that had taken his last breath in her arms, the father hugged Georgia and thanked her for the support she provided.