Painful Loss: Patch Mother's Day Photos

UNION CITY, CA — While other women are taking their mothers to brunch or dinner on Mother's Day, it's likely that Shari Bruce will shed a few tears for her mother, Joan, who died of cancer when Shari was 14 years old. In an email, Shari told Patch that she feels a "deep loss" at this time of year.

When she lost her mother, Shari "went from being a young teenager to the role of 'mother' for my younger sister who was 9 years old."

To help convey the pain that she still feels to this day, Shari wrote a poem about her loss.

May you find some peace on Mother's Day, Shari.