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NATALIE NOBLE, PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENT: "Dear Pookie, there will be times when you miss mummy a lot. I wish that I was here with you."
I've decided to write a letter so that at each stage of their life they always have something to refer to.
So, for example, when they feel stressed, or when they have relationship problems, or when they're going through puberty.
LAUREN DAY, REPORTER: Natalie Noble's daughters can't read yet and by the time they will be able to, their mum may not be around to write to them.
NATALIE NOBLE: "Live lives to the fullest, my darlings. Look at those photos, then a big smile for mummy".
LAUREN DAY: Almost exactly a year ago, 39-year-old Natalie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
KRIS NOBLE (Reading to his daughter): "And they sat on the tree and waited..."
KRIS NOBLE, NATALIE'S HUSBAND: It's shocking, you think you have got your whole life planned out in front of you, grow old, watch the kids grow up, get married, grandchildren, etc and, you know, you think you're going to have someone beside you for that whole time.
LAUREN DAY: She's had in-home palliative care since June, which means regular visits from nurses.
NATALIE NOBLE: And one day one of the nurses, she said, "Would you like to have a biography done?"
And I jump up and said, "Yes, this is such a good idea," because since the diagnosis I have been trying to find ways so that my children, to compound a story about me so that my children will get to know their mother.
LAUREN DAY: As well as the visiting health professionals, every couple of weeks Natalie gets a visit from retired nurse-turned biographer, Jane Reilly.
JANE REILLY, VOLUNTEER BIOGRAPHER: I think for them it's a cathartic exercise, because they can discuss things that happened in their life, it gives them time to reflect back, time to join some of the dots together and maybe to make peace.
LAUREN DAY: Volunteer biographers like Jane are paired with patients like Natalie to help tell their life stories.
The process involves recording regular conversations, which are then typed up and compiled into biographies for their loved ones.
JANE REILLY: You do actually have lots of laughs about lots of things that have actually happened.
When they get teary, you tend to give them a bit of space, a bit of quiet time but also you let them decide on how much they want to share and when they want to stop and stop and start the process.
MONICA ADDINGTON, VOLUNTEER BIOGRAPHER: Some clients can be quite reluctant to start. Often they will say, "I don't really have a story. I haven't really done anything interesting."
But, you know, we all have one story in us and that's the story of our lifetime.
LAUREN DAY: Monica Addington is another volunteer with a passion for people and telling their stories.
She's written about 20 biographies which take on average 70 hours to complete.
MONICA ADDINGTON: When you've had a life-limiting diagnosis, you are often very reflective of your life that's been led and so they will talk about the negative, they will talk about their regrets.
So although biography isn't seen as a therapy, it has a lot of therapeutic qualities.
LAUREN DAY: She's just finished her latest edition - the 73-year-old John Cott who is battling a life-threat liver condition.
JOHN COTT, PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENT: It was fantastic because you started remembering things that you had forgotten and experiences that you've had and that you could sort of reminisce again and enjoy again.
SUSAN COTT, JOHN'S WIFE: I love history. I love people's stories and so I think it's a wonderful treasure to give to our family. So I'm really pleased he's done it.
LAUREN DAY: The biographies often also reveal what people value the most.
MONICA ADDINGTON: The reality is that people, when they reflect in on their lives, they may touch on their working life, but mostly it's around the relationships that they've had.
People talk a lot about their friendships and their partners, their children and I guess it brings them to sharp focus that those are really the most important things for people.
LAUREN DAY: For John Cott, that is certainly the case.
JOHN COTT: How would I want to be remembered? Look, hopefully remembered well and I hope that my personality and life have come through in this exercise for somebody who reads it.
LAUREN DAY: Natalie Noble's biography is almost finished and she's looking forward to reading it.
But she hopes her daughters will be much older by the time they do.
NATALIE NOBLE: It is so important to know that even though you might not be here, but my love is always there.
JOHANNESBURG -- Thousands of protesters have defied a curfew imposed by Sudan's new military rulers, demanding a civilian government replace the military council that seized power from long-ruling president Omar al-Bashir on Thursday after months of street protests.
"The revolution has just started," some of the demonstrators shouted as they continued a mass protest outside the army headquarters in Khartoum, the focal point of escalating demonstrations since last weekend.
The protesters achieved a major part of their goal when their pressure helped end the 30-year rule of Mr. al-Bashir, an indicted warcrimes suspect who had survived decades of rebellions and economic turmoil. But they were angered that the president was replaced by a long-standing member of his own military establishment, suggesting that there will be few changes in the country's direction.
Sudan's Defence Minister and VicePresident, Awad Ibn Auf, proclaimed the military takeover on national television on Thursday after four months of almost daily protests across the country. He said Mr. alBashir had been arrested and held at "a safe place" to make way for a military council that would govern for the next two years.
Mr. Ibn Auf, who was later sworn into office as Sudan's interim president, announced the dissolution of the constitution and a nightly curfew of 10 p.m. under a renewed state of emergency. He also promised the release of protesters who had been arrested by the security forces.
But when the curfew began on Thursday night, the protesters remained defiantly in the streets, and there was no immediate sign of a crackdown against them. Opposition leaders vowed that the protests would continue until the military council agreed to a transition to civilian democratic rule.
Mr. Ibn Auf is a retired army officer and former military intelligence chief who helped organize the notorious pro-government Janjaweed militia in the country's Darfur region. After a United Nations mission identified him as among those responsible for the Darfur crisis, he was placed on a U.S.
blacklist and his assets were blocked.
In his announcement, Mr. Ibn Auf criticized the government for corruption, mismanagement and the deaths of protesters who were killed by security forces this week.
After a United Nations mission identified him as among those responsible for the Darfur crisis, he was placed on a U.S. blacklist and his assets were blocked.
In his announcement, Mr. Ibn Auf criticized the government for corruption, mismanagement and the deaths of protesters who were killed by security forces this week. But he showed no hint of allowing civilians or opposition leaders into the government. He said the legislative and executive branches of government would be dissolved while the military council ruled.
Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of protesters celebrated jubilantly in the streets of Khartoum, shouting "he's gone, he's gone," in response to widespread reports that Mr. al-Bashir had been arrested.
The streets of Sudan's capital were filled with cars and trucks honking their horns as people cheered wildly, punching their fists in the air and waving Sudanese flags. A number of imprisoned protest leaders were freed and quickly joined the protesters in the streets. Opposition leaders appealed to the protesters to remain peaceful as social media showed videos of people tearing down Mr. al-Bashir's portrait and breaking into the home of a senior government official.
But within minutes of the announcement of the military takeover, the mood quickly changed and the cheering ended.
Mr. al-Bashir, a former army officer who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on an arrest warrant for alleged genocide and war crimes in Darfur, seized power in Sudan in a military coup in 1989. He was able to maintain control despite U.S. sanctions and sporadic protests. But the latest wave of sustained protests, which began last December, intensified the pressure on him and triggered divisions in the army and security apparatus, with some mid-level soldiers and police defecting to the protesters.
The protests were sparked originally by soaring bread prices, cash shortages and a deepening economic crisis. But the demonstrations grew much stronger last Saturday when thousands of protesters moved into the area outside the army headquarters in Khartoum, staging a round-theclock mass sit-in and winning protection from elements in the military. At least 22 people were reportedly killed as security forces tried unsuccessfully to clear the protesters.
The dramatic developments in Sudan were the latest in a wave of political transitions in several African countries in recent years.
Long-ruling autocrats have been forced to step down in countries such as Algeria, Zimbabwe and Gambia. But with the exception of Gambia, most of these transitions have not yet led to full democracy, and the military has continued to play a powerful role in the new governments.
The African Union, in a statement on Thursday, criticized the military takeover and threatened to take "appropriate decisions" against Sudan. Analysts said the statement was a hint that the AU could suspend Sudan from its membership, an action it has rarely taken against its members.
"The military takeover is not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and the aspirations of its people," said the statement by Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission. He called on Sudanese authorities to meet the people's aspirations for democracy, and to "restore constitutional order as soon as possible."
Amnesty International called for Mr. al-Bashir to be turned over to the ICC for prosecution.
"Omar al-Bashir is wanted for some of the most odious humanrights violations of our generation, and we need to finally see him held accountable," said a statement by Amnesty International secretary-general Kumi Naidoo.
The Canadian government said it commended the Sudanese people "for their resilience and determination to make their voices heard ... in the face of a violent response from the authorities." It called for the authorities to lift the state of emergency and release all detained protesters.
Thousands demonstrate against the army's announcement that president Omar al-Bashir would be replaced by a military-led transitional council in Khartoum on Thursday. The protests were sparked originally by soaring bread prices, cash shortages and a deepening economic crisis.
Sudanese protesters rally in Khartoum on Thursday against the army's announcement that former president Omar al-Bashir would be replaced by a military-led transitional council.
If you need some last minute help on your taxes, you might be able to get it free from the IRS.
The software is just like the packages sold in retail outlets, and will walk you step by step through your tax return without the confusion that plagues people struggling with paper forms.
If you'd like the personal touch, there are IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in metro Chicago.
In Rockford, you can get help at 211 S. Court Street, 61101.
The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Taxpayers can also get free tax assistance from volunteer tax sites through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. (Generally, free preparation is available for families with incomes under $49,000 and seniors).
To find dozens of volunteer tax help sites in the Chicago metro area call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887. Some volunteer sites are listed at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=233769,00.html.
Check out the list by county in Illinois and you'll find sites listed with location, address, phone number, dates open and whether or not an appointment is needed.
Given the tight schedule between now and the tax filing deadline April 18, call in advance to make sure time is available. You can also call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040. This free service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
If you simply need help understanding a deduction or credit, you can find publications at www.IRS.gov. Also, get ideas for tax credits here and then learn how to turn your tax refund into thousands of dollars here.
When in doubt, people go to experts.
But beware if you turn to an expert with your FAFSA, or the college financial aid form that many parents are now rushing to complete before February and March deadlines.
This seems improbable to many people because tax preparers try to show Uncle Sam that you have a low income so you can get a refund. Seemingly that would be the same strategy for winning financial aid for college. Afterall, we know that aid is based on our income and so having a lower income should increase our chances of getting aid.
Unfortunately, however, the complex formula built into the questions you answer on your FAFSA, calculates your income and family expenses differently than the formula built into your tax return. And the result: people who think both tax returns and FAFSAs operate the same, can end up shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to aid for college.
For example, financial aid consultant Kalman Chany points out that if your tax preparer gets you a refund, you will have to report it on next year's tax form as part of your adjusted gross income.
"If you collect an average state and local refund of $1,600 each year over the four college years, you may have cost yourself as much as $3,000 in grant money," Chany says in his book, "Paying for College Without Going Broke."
Also, certain strategies for cutting income on tax forms fail to reflect expenses you have incurred like Social Security and Medicare. While that's fine for taxes, on your FAFSA form, this might leave you looking like you are in better shape financially than you are. Converting an IRA to a Roth IRA might also make sense for taxes, but could hurt you when applying for financial aid. In addition, putting money into 401(k)s and IRAs can help boost a tax refund, but won't help you with financial aid.
For more detail read this and attend my TribU event Wednesday on strategies for paying for college when you haven't saved enough.
Meanwhile, if you are getting help on your taxes and you are also applying for financial aid this year, choose a tax professional that also understands the quirky financial aid formula. Certified public accounts (CPAs), who also use the CCPS designation, are certified college planning specialists aware of the FAFSA formula.
Some communities offer free clinics on preparing your FAFSA. But keep in mind, that as an individual you can become more skilled than many tax professionals with the FAFSA, if you simply read "Paying for College Without Going Broke."
If you need help doing your taxes and your income is under $49,000 you can find it free at several Chicago area sites. And if your income is $58,000 or under, you can find free software on the IRS website. It will walk you step by step through your tax return without the confusion that plagues people struggling with paper forms.
If you were among the millions of people, who struggled through unemployment in 2010, make sure you get all the free money you can from Uncle Sam. Tax time might be a time to make money; not just pay it. See the freebies Uncle Sam offers.
To make sure you don't miss anything, find the free tax preparation software through the Free File program at www.IRS.gov by clicking on the Free File link. Review the criteria for free filing for each of the participating software companies and select the one that best meets your needs. All of them help you pay as little tax as possible, and to pick up free money from Uncle Sam if you have been struggling.
If you are worried about how to pay for college after tough times, also review these tips and consider joining me as I show you ways you can pick up thousands of dollars in free college tuition....beyond what Uncle Sam offers in grants or at tax time. And you can often attend the best colleges at a very low cost. Part of the strategy for getting fee college money involves getting your tax return in shape.
But moderate income person -- whether paying for college or just groceries -- can get help with taxes from a person, as well as the free tax preparation software I mentioned. If you don't feel comfortable working on your taxes, and would prefer to get help from a person, that's available free. Try one of the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in metro Chicago.
In Rockford, you can also get help at 211 S. Court Street, 61101.
The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Taxpayers can also get free tax assistance from volunteer tax assistance sites through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. (Generally, free preparation is available for families with incomes under $49,000 and seniors).
There are dozens of volunteer sites in the Chicago metro area. Taxpayers can call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887 to find the volunteer tax assistance site nearest them. Also, some volunteer sites are listed on IRS.gov at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=233769,00.html.
Check out the list at this site (per county) in Illinois and you'll see dozens of volunteer tax assistance sites listed with location, address, phone number, dates open and whether or not an appointment is needed.
Taxpayers can also ask questions by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040. This free service is available Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
You don't have to struggle with your tax return if you don't make much money.
There is free tax help available through the IRS and groups such as AARP for people with incomes up to $49,000. For people with incomes up to $59,000 there is free software available at the IRS website that allows you to do your taxes relatively easily. Find it by clicking here.
It's worth getting help this year because there are numerous goodies available at tax time due to efforts by the government to stimulate the economy. Review many of them by clicking here.
Some new or revised tax credits could cut your tax bill by thousands. Others will even provide you with money if you owe no taxes at all.
To find a free tax clinic that will help you fill out your tax return, call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887 of click here. The service is called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). Seniors can find help through AARP at 888-227-7669 or by clicking here.
If you seek help from a tax preparation service, do not pay a fee to get an early refund. Most refunds arrive within a couple of weeks, so paying a fee is a waste of money.
In Chicago, there is free help at the IRS office at 230 S. Dearborn Street on most Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. There are also offices at 2066 Windish Drive Galesburg, 14479 S. John Humphrey Drive in Orland Park, 5100 River Road in Schiller Park and 3101 Constitution Drive Springfield. But days and times vary so check with the IRS before going to any office. Also, you will have an easier time finding a clinic now than closer to the tax filing deadline April 15.
o Valid Social Security cards for you, your spouse and any dependents.
o Birth dates for you, your spouse and any dependents to be claimed on the return.
o Wage and earning statement(s) Forms W-2 and W-2G and Forms 1099-R.

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