I began to write poetry and short stories to express the unspeakable pain of losing a child when my son, a multi-talented dynamic young man, had endured several cruel twists of fate which forced him to return home to live with me. These were to be the final five years of his life, which ended one month after his diagnosis of leukemia. There was a certain release in my struggle to find the best words to put down. Some people have told me that my writings have helped them deal with the hurts in their life, and to sympathize with mine. I am humble and complimented to hear this.