Justin Pointer, right, 24, had just returned from Iraq, with the 82nd Airborne and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., when he got a phone call from his mother, Wanda, 49. He thought she was calling to tell him more about her success quitting smoking, but instead, she told him that she had lung cancer. He had recently been re-enlisted by the Army and was ordered to deploy to Afghanistan for 15 months. Justin was able to obtain a discharge in late April to move back to Richmond, CA, where he grew up and where his mom lived for 20 years, to take care of her. The two then moved to a house in Oakland, CA owned by the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church where Wanda's brother is pastor. When Wanda was diagnosed with the most serious stage of lung cancer in February, she had to stop working. 'It was a shock because I wasn't feeling as sick as I really was,' says Wanda. By the time she was diagnosed, her lung cancer had metastasized ‚ spread to other organs, including the left side of her brain, her liver, kidneys and pancreas. Her doctor told her she had six to nine months to live without treatment and possibly one or more years with treatment. Justin, an only child, has taken on the role of caregiver with grace and pride. Despite leaving an entire life behind, including a daughter of whom is trying to get custody, and dealing with the emotional repercussions of his 4 years service in the war, Justin says he feels blessed. 'She is my best friend and my hero,' Justin says, 'She raised me and sacrificed her whole life for me, anyone would do the samething.' Here, Justin rubs the tufts of hair that are growing back on his mother's head. The two had been arguing and had come to a resolution. Wanda was expressing her fears about death. 'It's all about faith,' Justin finally says, ' If you trust God there is nothing to fear.'