Book excerpt: Life goes on. But does it really? When my beautiful 47 year old mother, Gina, was diagnosed with stage four Lung Cancer, my world as I knew it came tumbling down. As a 23 year old girl, ready to start a life of my own, this heart wrenching news was more than I could bear. Together we battled her terminal illness. Along the way we shared happiness, sadness, laughter, love, hope & heartache. We went through the motions, the ups and downs. I stood by her side as she inspired many others who were also fighting this beast they call cancer, to keep on fighting. We kept the hope strong as she had an army behind her cheering her on, every step of the way. When my mom passed away only ten months after diagnosis I found treasures that she had left behind that told a story of a mother's undying love. Treasures that will forever remain in my mind, body, heart, and soul. Treasures that brought a new hope and a profound reason to carry on the life she loved to live so very much. This true story was written with the intent to inspire many. To those who are fighting the fight, keep on fighting. To those who have experienced tremendous loss, we must remember that even through the darkest of days, life does in fact go on.