It is easy to say "I love you" every day when hubby goes to work, because I know that I will see him again in the evening. Sometimes the words "I Love You" just roll off my tongue as automatic as saying "goodbye, have a good day at work".
But when you know with 100% certainty, that you will not see some one again, and that the end of their life is so close, it is so hard to say I love you. And good bye.