In my view a good or bad experience is the result of a good or bad preparation. With the preparation you are actually setting your mind to the right mindset. This can be done by meditation, deep concentration, watching a concert (I like Pink Floyd for this) on DVD, standing still by the things you do, even the everyday things, etc.
This all may be very difficult while thinking about your deadly sick mother though. What she can try is to make all the preparations for the brew, try to set her mind to the right conditions and is she somehow feels she's not ready for it then cancel the journey, on the other hand, if she feels she's ready for it then she probably is and can continue the journey.
Whatever she's doing, grand her my deepest regards, my mother passed away of terminal cancer about 4 years ago, it's a hard thing to go through.