Mom has been less and less responsive as the day has worn on, and her breathing has been more and more erratic. One characteristic of the process of dying is apnea, pauses in breathing that can last 30 seconds or more. These pauses don't necessarily mean that her breathing is about to stop. Nevertheless, it's distressing to hear it.
She is being very sensitively cared for and is medicated for pain. Of course, that may have something to do with the non-responsiveness. It's a difficult balance to strike between pain management and over-medication.
Peg talks with her about how she's just about to be joining Jim and that they're going fishing together again. Peg says she detects a slight smile when she says that. I said to her that I was going to miss her very, very much, and her forehead wrinkled. So at some level, she's still with us, even though her body is failing.
Tomorrow morning, she will be transported to Hospice House in Spokane.
Sorry not to be more informative, but it has been long day. What a long, strange trip it's been!
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