So many good replies to your question. My initial reaction was that there is really nothing you can do. You just keep getting up every day and doing what has to be done and very slowly over time it stops hurting so much. Occasionally you will have an hour with out thinking about it and then eventually a whole day might go by. After a long time it is something that just hangs in the background. But now you are dealing with the hardest part the waiting and the watching and not knowing how much longer. Knowing that you have to let her go and that as much as it will hurt, you will be OK. My mother died 18 years ago - it doesn't seem possible that it was that long ago. All I can tell you is some how you survive and eventually you can enjoy life again and your memories of her will always be with you.