What is Death?

A Death Observed
by Susan, WA United States
writer, Aged 64

I watched my sister die of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. For about a week or 10 days before she died, she became hard to rouse and her breathing became laborious. Over the next 7 days she became harder and harder to rouse, until it was impossible. At that point Hospice came and moved her into their facility. She was not given any more food and only a little water. After being in Hospice for about a week, one Sunday I woke with a start feeling "this is the day." I rushed to Hospice. At around 1:30 p.m. her breathing faltered, her skin turned a grey-brown, her hands grew cold and her last breath came. It was an inspiring thing to watch. She was in no pain. May God keep her at his side.

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