My mom has had a mini stroke. She has had a major one before as well as heart attacks and a host of other things. We almost lost her this time last year and it took 4 months to get her well enough to come home.

We have a member of the family in Iraq. Mom lives for him to come home. His wife has caused Mom so much stress and hurt that she caused Mom to have the mini stroke. It's not an accusation; it's a fact.

I took Mom to a regular check up today for her deep venous phlebitis. She's gone to this Dr since I was very little and I could not understand why she insisted I not drop her off and come back and get her. She absolutley wouldn't be left there alone. So I went in with her.

Then I understood. She couldn't remember to tell the Dr that she had a mini stroke. She couldn't remember the name of it. She was afraid to be left alone trying to explain and my heart broke into a million peices.

My Mom has told a dear family friend that she is dying. She would never, ever talk like that normally. Never!

I want to call the Red Cross and get them to have him fly home from Iraq. I'm afraid she's not going to make it, but she's not in intensive care or anything like that so I don't think they would help me.

Now I see so many things I just didn't understand before. She can't hear. I can't buy her hearing aids and she desperately needs them. All her friends are dying. We've had so many deaths in the last few months. She's afraid she won't get to see J again. She is afraid... I don't now how to fix it. I just don't know how...and I feel like I'm failing her.