Messages from Dying Mothers

Messages from Dying Mothers

From The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Podcast by Oprah

February 10, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

Oprah speaks with mothers preparing for their families' futures as they face terminal illnesses.

From April 20, 1998: Oprah talks to mothers who are making preparations for family after their deaths. New Zealand mother Tobi Mills opens up about placing a newspaper ad seeking a new family for her 10-year-old twins as she undergoes treatment for liver cancer. Erin Kramp shares motherly advice in videos to her daughter and husband while fighting breast cancer. Rose and Al Malavolti adopted eight children from a mother who was suffering from a terminal illness. (Erin Kramp passed away on October 31, 1998; her daughter was 6 years old. Tobi Mills also passed away in 1998.)

People in this episode

Host: Oprah

Guests: Tobi Mills, Erin Kramp, Rose Malavolti, Al Malavolti

Topics covered

  • death
  • motherhood
  • family
  • cancer
  • legacy
  • adoption

Keywords

  • dying mothers
  • family preparation
  • cancer treatment
  • adoption
  • motherly advice

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