My grandmother Gladys Mae Howell passed away today at the age of 82. Her blood pressure had been dropping over the past several days, and her heart gave out today. The surgery was just too intense for someone of her age and health. It's a sad occasion, but I really couldn't imagine a better outcome; it was obvious she would not recover enough to go home, she would have to go to a nursing home or hospice instead, and if her cancer was indeed terminal, than a fast resolution to her suffering is probably a blessing.