During the night they transferred Mom from the ICU to a regular patient room. My sister Susie arrived from Los Angeles at 1 AM. My sister Robin, Susie, and I all got to the hospital at about 10:00 this morning. We knew the room number and were distressed to find an empty room. As it turns out, they had taken Mom to have a brain scan.
We again spoke with the palliative care nurse about options. She had not become responsive overnight. She still had the infections. And she was still on an IV with dextrose and antibiotics.
So today her blood sugars have stayed at 180 or above. She continues to have a fever. But we have noticed swelling and fluid retention. The cardiologist came in and her heart function and respiratory function is pretty much normal. But she is still unconscious. While she has not been a complainer, I do recall mentioning to her that someone had just lived to be 100. And Mom retorted that she hoped she didn't live to be that old. And when she was unable to come with the right words in the last few months, I could read the definite frustration on her face. She had signed the "Do Not Resuscitate" order. So collectively, between my sister and me, we felt very secure in our decision to find out more about Hospice after we spoke to the hospitalist this afternoon. The hospital social worker contacted the Hospice people for us and they sent someone to talk to us at 5:30 this afternoon.
She will move to the brand new St. Luke's Hospice that is on Southwest Trafficway, just about a block from the site where Robin and I spent our high school years . . . right across the street from the elementary school that we attended. Susie, I believe, also went to her first years of elementary school there as well. (That elementary school building still stands, but it is no longer a school.) Of course no one can predict when or if Mom will pass, but they will keep her as comfortable and pain free as possible. The antibiotics will be diminished and the IV feeding will stop. Her body will take over and either recover on its own or more likely gradually come to a halt. The doctors and nurses at Hospice will manage any pain. If her body should not continue its decline, we will have to return her to a nursing home. However, the best guess of the doctor and the Hospice nurse was that she could slowly decline for a couple of weeks.
She will be in very nice surroundings. We can play music in her room that she has enjoyed during the rest of her life. The family can gather around her in a home-like atmosphere. Meals can be taken at the Hospice Home, going in and out at will or even staying all night as we see that her last day is approaching quickly.
While since yesterday at about noon, she has not opened her eyes or communicated with us, she seems to be resting comfortably. Moving her to the St. Luke's Hospice is a continuation of that comfortable rest. It is only about five minutes from us rather than the 20 minute drive to Blue Springs. Susie's children and grandchildren will likely be able to get here to say goodbye when they come up for Thanksgiving. All the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren can come together in a comfortable setting to reminisce, support, and love. So it will help us to take care of ourselves as we go through the stress of the situation.
So we are at peace with this as well.
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