My mom died when I was 8, and my mom's sister adopted me at 12. I got a second chance at being part of a family.

Courtesy Isabella Ambrosio

My mother died unexpectedly 10 days before my 8th birthday. She had been sick for less than a month before eventually succumbing to her illness. She was warm, bright, funny, and smart, and my time with her was unbelievably short.