My dad's cancer went from "we don't know he's sick" to dead in about 3 months. I did get to see him in person, but not before he was already in the hospital for the last time. That was 20+ years ago. I learne from that experience.

My mom's short term memory is starting to go. We talk about once a week now that her yearly visits stopped being possible due to her condition, and mine because of Covid.

I just ask her things about her and my dad from before I was born, or things only she could know from when I was a kid. Because she is a smart woman, she knows why I'm asking these questions without us having to explicitly discuss it. Beause of her memory issues, she doesn't remember the conversations or only parts. She does remember that her son called her to talk and ask how she's doing and say he loves her.