The Tibetan Book of  Living and Dying gives an extraordinarily vivid description of the dying process (chapter 15), which almost exactly matches the stages Laura went through. Equally interesting is a section called Phowa: The Transference of the Consciousness, which tells how there are 9 routes for a dying person’s consciousness to leave the body. Evidently the best path is through the crown of the head, (in case you were wondering, the worst route is through your ass).  The night Laura passed, I saw a steady stream of white light, almost like an upward river emanating from her crown. The book says those whose consciousness leaves via this route are not reincarnated on earth, but rather are reborn in a pure land and proceed toward enlightenment. I always knew Laura was special.  Now we know how very special.