It doesn’t matter
What age you are.
When a loved one dies
It’s very, very hard.

I was sweet sixteen
When my brother died.
I shut down
Never once, did I cry.

Over the years
I’ve learned to accept.
As a man, a soldier
He fought to protect.

He accepted his orders
And, took command.
But, why did they leave him
In a far away land?

Many, many years
Letters came to remind.
No soldier – their comrade
Would be left behind.

Mother and Dad
Never gave up hope.
It was all they could do
In order to cope.

One day a letter came
A smoking gun.
Searches would cease
Nothing could be done.

No soldier – their comrade
Would ever be left behind.
This was their promise
They’ve lied this time.

I buried Mom and Dad
And, promised them this.
Danny will come home
Full Military honors at best.

Deborah Ann Tornillo
Author, “36 Days Apart”
Copyright© 2010
http://www.deborahtornillo.com

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Deborah Tornillo

Deborah Tornillo was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas by her loving and nurturing parents. She attended the University of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she studied Art. After marrying, raising two daughters and enjoying life with her family, Deborah joined a higher calling by committing to be the primary caregiver for her parents, both of whom were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in February 2006. In her new collection of memoirs, 36 Days Apart: A memoir of a daughter, her parents and the Beast named – Alzheimer’s: A story of Life, Love and Death, Deborah chronicles the time spent taking care of her mother and father. 36 Days Apart recounts this painful, enlightening journey, and Tornillo writes candidly about the struggles and fears she faced as her parents’ caregiver. As their disease progressed, Tornillo was faced with the difficult task of learning how to be a parent to her own parents. Through the year and a half of caring for them she extensively researched Alzheimer’s in order to provide the best care possible, all the while knowing that the disease would eventually win in the end. 36 Days Apart gives an honest, unflinching look at the realities of caring for and losing loved ones to Alzheimer’s. Tornillo gives the reader an inside look into the day-to-day life she faced during her heartbreaking, difficult time.

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