My mother was officially moved to hospice today. Her decline has been rapid following a bout of pneumonia 3 or 4 weeks ago. Estimates are that she only has 4-7 days left although, of course, she could go at any time, or linger for a few more weeks.
My dad and two sisters are facilitating equipping the home apartment to receive her, and getting her home. After that (we hope it only takes a day or so) me and mine, along with the rest of the family, will be making the trip to say goodbye.
Although we’d like mom to get better it’s clear that that is not happening. So please, if you offer prayers, make them for her last days to be pain free and for her to be lucid enough to recognize her family and know what we say when we tell her we love her. She has suffered poor health since before I was born, really, for half a century. Her suffering no longer serves the purpose of bringing her back to health, so let it end.
I’m so sorry, Broomstick. Sending all the good vibes I have for her to know she’s home and surrounded by her loved ones, and for her passing to be peaceful and pain free. My deepest sympathies to your family.
You’ve got my prayers, lady, for your mother, your family, and yourself. May her passing be easy and may she know joy and love for the rest of her days.
My sympathies. My dad went very quickly after being diagnosed with stomach cancer 3 years ago. I managed to make it back home to see him in palliative care before he died, but he wasn’t lucid enough to talk. I don’t think he even knew I was there. Make sure you talk to your mom before it reaches that level. I regret not having one last chat with him. But we did get together a couple of months before he died and spent some quality time going for walks. We watched the original Pink Panther movie with Peter Sellers the last night we spent together; for that, I’m thankful.
I just came back from 10 days in Detroit helping dad take care of mom (well, when she was home - otherwise I was going back and forth to the hospital with dad to visit her). Her mental clarity has been deteriorating for years, but we did have some time where she was awake and aware. I have said all that I should say, and though I’d like to say it again, if she passes away tonight I will have had that “last chat”.
I came back home to rest and recuperate while another sister rotated “on duty” as it were. We had a schedule set up to make sure dad wouldn’t go it alone, but it looks like we won’t get through even one full time through the schedule.
And thanks for the good wishes. We’ll get through this, but no matter what, it is very sad.
Broomstick, I took care of both my parents as patients (IANAD), and everytime I had a break from my other duties, I would be in Dad’s (and later - Mom’s) room and talk to them about memories of growing up and all the goofy stuff they had to put up with - with me.
Those talks are very important whether your loved one is lucid or not, and I am proud of you for doing this.
Broomstick, I’m so sorry. If, when the relatives have to travel to see your mom, they pass through Kansas, on I-70 and need to stop to rest, sleep, whatever, PM me. Maybe I can help
