I lost my father in September 5 years ago, and my mother was just diagnosed with a tumor on her spine, and at 80, one has to wonder how much she can take in terms of surgery, and this fear and sadness is weighing heavily on me today, as it will tomorrow, wondering if this is the last Christmas with her. We were heartbroken when my father died, and we'll be devastated when my mother dies, whenever it is.
However, I completely understand the point that snoopy was making...she knew how much she suffered over the loss of her parents, and in feeling that way over those losses, she was just expressing to Blondie (the OP, who posted about the loss of a child, her nephew) that she just can't imagine what the loss of a child must be like; I don't think it should be too hard to understand the concept of the overwhelming, heartwrenching emptiness and grief that losing a child must bring.
Two years ago, we were told that our DD, then 13, most likely had leukemia, and when that was negative, a tumor on her spine. When I allowed those horrid, unthinkable thoughts to enter my head...if it came down to it, how would we TELL her she'll die, how will the other two kids deal with it, how do we BE a family with 2 kids, how do we just not have her here anymore?...well, I hope I NEVER have to EVER face those questions in my lifetime. But I always knew...at some point...as sad as it would be...that my parents would be gone. And yes, my heart breaks first and foremost for every parent who has ever lost a child, particularly those that have lost one this past year and are facing their first Christmas or other holiday without them.
And of course I understand the loss of a parent, and how difficult the holidays can be without them, especially a first one, and offer my condolences to those people as well.