My seventy-one year old grandmother has recently been diagnosed with an advanced case of lung cancer, a result of more than 50 years spent incessantly chain-smoking. As her close family, this has been a most compelling time, especially after our countless warnings to her of the dangers of smoking. And yet, not once has any member of my family had the smallest desire to say to her "Well . . . we did tell you . . ." Of course not. Nor …showed first 75 words of 416 total…

…showed last 75 words of 416 total…it, or extinguish it altogether. Van Nguyen made a severe mistake. So did my grandmother. Only difference? For my grandmother, their was no possibility of instead of dying, spending the remainder of her life in a small cell. Sure, crappy food, not exactly the ideal living quarters, but how much do you wanna bet she'd jump at the opportunity? But no, unfortunately cancer doesn't provide such an ultimatum. Different action. Different responses. Same loss. . life.