11 months from the day my mom passed away, her one and only brother succumbed to cancer as well. Uncle Estoy passed away Jan 20th, in the Philippines. I got the sad news via email from my cousins back home.

One of the reasons I went home to the islands last June 2010 was to see my mom's sisters and brother, because they couldn't be here for the funeral. I got to see and spend time with all of them. We knew my uncle was sick. He had prostate cancer. It was in the final stages. We got to see him and talk to him but it was sad. We couldn't even talk about my mom or how he was feeling. He was so weak and thin and couldn't even walk anymore.

I remember as a young child how in awe we all were of this uncle. He was bigger than life, strong, quiet, and so very intimidating. His kids, all the cousins, and even his 3 sisters were intimidated, even my mom. But he and my mom, they had a special bond. I had this feeling all my life that he loved my mom the most, of all his sisters.

When my mom passed, he was deeply affected, his little sister dying before him. He already knew he had cancer but I think he thought he would go first.

Last night, I couldn't stop crying. Part sadness, part happiness. My mom has her brother with her now.