POD: Day 199 | 2.29.12

My mother, Angelina Rodriguez Melvin, holds a photo of her parents, Isaias Rodriguez and Natalia Rodriguez,  both deceased. Her mother, Natalia, right, died on October 29, 2006, from complications from a heart attack. Her father, Isaias, left, passed away only a few months ago on December 1, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. For both parents she traveled from North Carolina to Mexicali, Mexico, and stayed for several weeks--up to several months--to help care for them in their final days.