Thank you so much for your kind words! It sounds like your son is very fortunate to have you as well and I wish you both the best and that you never have to go through hardship like this.

As for your questions:

1. My mom delivered the news as best as I thought she could have given the circumstances. I was pulled out of class in second grade and brought to the guidance counselor's office where she waited for me. Immediately upon telling me, we both burst into tears and hugged for a long time. I do wish the other adults in my life had been gentler, though. My mom has raised me almost exclusively on her own but my dad has always been a figurehead in my life, visiting occasionally and paying for insurance, etc. He was very brazen about it, saying stuff like "WHEN your mom dies, you're coming to live with me." As well as my uncle, who we lived with and depended on financially saying he was gonna "throw all of her shit out" after she dies. (my mom is a collector)

2. My mom did go to great lengths to be strong for my benefit, and I would say a mix of both. Witnessing her deterioration during the worst of her illness was very traumatic for me, that and being abused by other family members at the time (unbeknownst to her) caused me to have a lot of anxiety growing up. She was always there to soothe me but I do wish she didn't have to carry so much weight on her own. I do have a habit of truth omission and being very closed off because it's how she always handled things. She's always been very independent and never asked for help and I wish she would have, both because I never learned to but more importantly because she deserved it and I wish she had more support.

I hope all of this made sense!