I didn’t come to know about Jade Goody until she became the symbol of cervical cancer as the young mother of two little boys. I didn’t watch her on Big Brother U.K. And I didn’t watch her on yet another reality series as she got the news that she was dying of the disease.

But her story has captivated me since she chose to die on television, selling exclusive rights to filming her final days of life. Goody died over the weekend.

As a mother, I can’t stop thinking about her little boys. What they must be going through. And that they had to go through this very tragic time in the spotlight of television cameras. In a flash, those little boys were forced to grow up and deal with a painful reality many adults have yet to experience.

I’ve wondered if given the chance, would I make the decision Goody made to die in front of the cameras. I’m glad I don’t have to make that choice. Goody’s decision was apparently a financial one: The money she received in exchange for her access would go a long way in providing for her children and paying for their education long after she was gone.

But at what cost to the children? I guess the millions could also go toward paying for the kids’ counseling, as well, because they’ll surely need it.