answer:I think you should offer to speak to the daughter. Ask the mom in a non-accusatory way, such as “I’ve been through that, how about I meet your daughter to let her know what to expect and how I am doing.” She may resist, but soften it with “I know I would have liked to talk to someone besides a doctor or nurse.” It’s hard to tell if the mom is in absolute denial, or is trying to put a brave face on it. Chances are she is scared shitless (no pun intended) that she will lose her daughter. I had a friend who lived a very productive life until the age of 56. He had ulcerative colitis and related problems from the time he was 12, and spent so much time at Stanford Medical Center when we were in high school that we joked he had his own room there. When we were older, he once told me he felt so lonely then because there was no one his age to talk to. Good luck!