tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117406414547601885.post7130566243045534220..comments2023-04-26T07:52:49.887-05:00Comments on HOSPICE DOCTOR: RevokeHOSPICE DOCTORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17759756170374514803noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117406414547601885.post-33378167861984137652010-04-16T20:09:35.222-05:002010-04-16T20:09:35.222-05:00You made a loving choice. I hope you know that.You made a loving choice. I hope you know that.HOSPICE DOCTORhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17759756170374514803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117406414547601885.post-49384675029984752142010-04-11T23:49:13.215-05:002010-04-11T23:49:13.215-05:00I lost my mom to esophageal cancer 3 years ago. I ...I lost my mom to esophageal cancer 3 years ago. I was only 30 years old, but as a healthcare worker, I knew hospice was the right direction for us. My mom refused for so long, certain in her heart there would be a moacle, even though she was a very intelligent woman who knew oherwise. <br /><br />When she had a seizure and was unable to speak, she was admitted to the hospital, her room a mere 10 paces from where I work. The doctor discussed hospice with us then, after discovering mets to her brain. He explained to my panicked oldest sister that trying to treat the tumours in her brain was almost cruel, as when she died, it would be like going to sleep. But if "treated", the cancer would continue to spread, and when it took her, it would like be very painful, such as if it metastasized to the bones. This explanation helped her. <br /><br />I've seen so many cancer patients, even ones with very good pain control by current standards died very slowly and painfully. Every last one, in fact. And it was so hard on the families. So when my mom died just a week later, a week that was pain-free with her being able to talk with us (though not her usual self, she acted like she had been smoking marijuana !), I was as okay with it as one can be when it comes to death. <br /><br />My sister was afraid we'd hastened her death, second guessing herself about the hospice decision. I explained that I'd never seen someone dying of cancer to go so easily, which made it easier for US as well. And while I miss her terribly, I'm glad hospice allowed us to be able to remember her death in a way that does not hurt us. It reminds me that we did the right thing.Charity Breinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117406414547601885.post-68860870217812460812010-04-10T21:27:40.340-05:002010-04-10T21:27:40.340-05:00Hospice Doctor,
Thanks for the post! I agree that...Hospice Doctor,<br /><br />Thanks for the post! I agree that families will sometimes let their anguish blind them to what dying patients really need. A lot of the time, for me, this occurs with rapid decline that comes from out of the blue, eg. Stage IV cancer in an active person. Its very difficult trying to prevent such tragedies but so necessary.Ty Meyernoreply@blogger.com