Hi, I am so sorry for all of your pain with your Mom's illness...I lost my brother in 1975, he was 19...I was 21..It was very difficult, as I missed his presence so much..Through the years I went into nursing and ended up working with hospice..I was with many patients and family members at the 'end'...Once I was given a book about the Aborigines and their total spiritual reliance on the universe and what comforted me about it, was, whenever a baby is being born or an elder in the 'tribe' is dying, they say the same words "We support you on your journey..." It made a lot of sense to me, as that is what we all need...That is the bottom line...When a person is so gravely ill, they are needing to exit their diseased state, and for them to have people they love, music, whatever they love around, it is so comforting..It gives them peace to face what they now have to do..to let go and go on..She will still be with you..Peace to you all and most importantly to your Mom..Nancy K