My Mom, Gabriele L. Pringle, passed away this past Friday morning, October 4th, 2019. She was 74 years old.

She had been living with COPD since 2010. In 2017, an x-ray showed a mass in her lung. In her current state of health, a biopsy of the cancer was a significant risk. Any treatment via chemotherapy or radiation, while possibly extending her life by a short time, would have left her with a poorer quality of life.

She opted to remain untreated and to continue to live as independently as possible. A year later, in 2018, the tumor had doubled in size and her doctor placed her on hospice care.

Three months ago, we had to move her into a nursing home because she needed 24-hour a day care and supervision.

I visited her Thursday evening. She fell asleep during my visit and I stayed with her for a while before I kissed her good night and whispered to her that it was OK for her to go.