It's a tragic reality that's become all too common in the time of AIDS.
Grandmothers in Africa have had to bury their children - victims of the disease - and then take care of their orphaned grandchildren.
Matilda Mwenda, a grandmother from Zambia, is dealing with the devastating knowledge that her grandson is HIV-positive.
"It's very hard. It's very hard, but I've just accepted it because I cannot reverse it," she said. "It's hard on me so I have to be strong."
As the International AIDS Conference prepares to get underway in Toronto this Sunday, Mwenda and others like her have come from all over the continent in order to unite with Canadian grandmothers in battling the killer illness.
It's thanks to UN envoy Stephen Lewis's foundation that the grandmothers' organization came together - he's worked non-stop to bring international attention to the crisis. In sub-Saharan Africa, 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
The grandmothers will be in Toronto for the weekend to share their stories and recommendations with conference organizers.
CityNews anchor
Gord Martineau and
MuchMoreMusic's Traci Melchor will be hosting Time to Deliver: the AIDS 2006 Benefit Concert.
It happens Sunday night at the Rogers Centre and features performances by The Barenaked Ladies, Our Lady Peace and Alicia Keys. Bill Gates, who just donated half a billion dollars to AIDS research, will be delivering a keynote address.
For more details on the conference,
click here.