I am so sorry to hear this. I remember when this happened and I was so shocked that your own mother could do something like that. I know Max knows you loved him. You showed him every day. I can only imagine how you feel right now. I know how hard it is to let go of what your mother did. It's been 10 years and it's still hard for me to forgive myself for what that idiot I married did to Duke. I'm trying to let go of it. Not forgive him at all but just make peace with it. The only thing holding on to does is hurt yourself. Part of letting go would be to visit his grave and look at the tree. You've got to deal with it or you're never going to be able to move forward. I'm not saying it will be easy at all. Rob's "parents" sound just horrible. I can't imagine not being able to love animals and such. I can't believe people can be so cruel. You've got me sniffling at work. Those pics are so cute. I've gotten a lot better at making sigs if you want me to make a memorial of some type for you.