[jyl]

My wife has cared for a few of her family in their final weeks. She's the one who responds and has the time and empathy. Last was her niece and mother of two who died in her early thirties from brain cancer. One thing she (wife) told me is that there will be a couple days near the end when the dying person feels better, and that is an important time for people to visit and sit with, talk, remember. I may have that wrong, others here will know more. I also don't know if your mother in law is past that point. I think (?) if her bowels have ceased working, it is pretty close.