That's a fantastic example! The older we get and the more we encounter, the more situations we end up relating to and sympathizing with. Any department is bound to have its hard days, but I'm pretty confident that you'll be fantastic in whichever one you choose. If something hits a little too close to home with your mom, just remember that the cancer was not her. The cancer was just a blip on the screen in the timeline of her life and accomplishments. The compassion you have though is definitely an asset. If there were ever a situation where I'd want to feel like I wasn't just a number in a huge world, it'd probably involve the vulnerability of needing medical care.