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I helped my mother-in-law pass February 14th. The hardest part may have been seeing what she saw: that it was her time. I spent one night telling her stories to take her mind off of pain until she was allowed more morphine. Once the family transferred her from the hospital to hospice (in a wonderful nursing home) she was made comfortable and finally received enough medication for pain. Useless treatments were stopped and the focus changed from utilizing medical procedures to help her to helping her by allowing her to die with dignity. Her family stayed with her overnight her last three nights, and let her know she would never be alone. We gave her permission to die when she was ready. Hospice provided clergy and a social worker to help the family work through issues around the end of life. While the social worker was talking with my husband and his sisters, I sat with my mother-in-law and noticed the change in her breathing immediately preceding her death. I ran to get the family and we stood around the bed, taking turns to wish her a loving goodbye. She died, surrounded by family. It was a peaceful moment, one that left us all relieved and grateful.

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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