Judy Bower is currently preparing for the worst day of her life.

Two years ago, her 36-year-old son Daniel was diagnosed with recurrent salivary gland cancer that has now metastasized to his lungs and brain. The Bower Family is no stranger to cancer; Judy is a survivor of invasive breast cancer, and her second son, Phillip, is a survivor of liver cancer.  Unfortunately, Daniel’s condition is terminal; Judy is simply “waiting for a phone call.”  

In October 2012, Judy and her daughter-in-law, Amanda Bower, opened The Barn coffee shop on Main Street in Trenton, Mo. It is a place where the entire staff calls her “Mom.” As Judy waits for that call, The Barn has become a source of community and support that helps her carry on with her daily life in the face of overwhelming grief.