There is a silence in the Ahern household that hasn't been there for 15 years.
"There's a lot of time," Linda Ahern says. "Time to think. A lot of quiet."
It's been nearly six weeks since Micah Ahern passed away, after a years long battle with neuroblastoma.
"I think having the silence has allowed me to grieve," Linda says.
Life is much different now, both for Linda and her three children, Grace, Nolan, and Eden Kate.
"I think they are enjoying me having time," Linda says, as she spends a great deal more time with them, these days.
But they all still miss Micah. It doesn't matter how much Linda reminds them that they still have a brother -- he just lives somewhere else, now.
"They don't care," a teary-eyed Linda says. "They just wish that he was here -- like we all do."
Mourning Micah has been a difficult process. And one that will take time.
"We obviously mourn the loss of Micah, and the life that he had," Linda says.
"But even more than that, I'm mourning his future, because that's what I wanted, you know? A future daughter in law, or future grandchildren.
"And all that is stuff that he really was robbed of. And so i feel like I've been robbed. And I have. And he has. And so have they."
Now, the Ahern family -- Linda especially -- has a purpose.
This is what Micah wanted: "Someday, kids wouldn't get nueroblastoma anymore, because there would be a cure."
A friend of Micah's, who he knew from the hospital, was taken off life support, Tuesday. She was another neuroblastoma patient.
"People think this is rare, but it's so not rare."
And so, through the Micah Ahern foundation -- and Childhood Cancer Awareness month, this month -- Linda is pushing that message.
"It shouldn't be happening. Just because of money? That's certainly not a reason to keep letting our children die."
All of that effort -- day in and day out -- in memory of Micah.
"You know, it's so easy for us to think about 'this tragedy'. And it is a tragedy. But the reality is, Micah was really special, and really silly all the time, always playing pranks, he was always getting into trouble. And that's who we should remember. And I think that's what he would want us to focus on."
So we will.
If you'd like to help, or donate, or otherwise be a part of the fight against neuroblastoma and all childhood cancers, visit SuperheroMicah.org