Respite
When caring for someone who is dying, you hear words and terminologies that normally wouldn't apply to your daily life:
HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
(also known as portosystemic encephalopathy) is the occurrence of confusion, altered levels of consciousness, or coma due to liver failure. In advanced stages it is called hepatic coma or coma hepaticum. It may ultimately lead to death. It is often caused by accumulation of toxic substances in the bloodstream that are normally removed by the liver.
APNEA
A temporary period of time in which an individual stops breathing. It literally means, "no breath."
RESPITE
A short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out.
Friday, July 27th, marks 7 weeks since dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. SEVEN. WEEKS. Based on Monday's physical assessment, our nurse informed us that he may not even make it that far. Dad hasn't eaten solids or consumed any liquids in almost 48 hours. He's also been sleeping a lot more. We can't even keep him conscious enough to take his pain meds. NOT a good sign.
Dad never wanted to be a hospice patient. Up until his oncologist revealed the dire results of his liver biopsy, dad still held onto the hope that he would be able to aggressively treat his cancer with chemotherapy and/or radiation. He planned to seek out a hospital in Arizona that boasted success in slowing down the progress of this nasty, nasty disease. He so badly wanted to fly to Lourdes, France with mom so that he could swim in "holy water" - checking off an item in his bucket list.
I guess it was never meant to be.
As a part of dad's final list of instructions, we moved him into a respite facility to spend his final days of life. He did NOT want to pass away in the home that he loved. He felt the need to preserve the special moments that our family shared together. It was of prime importance that what remained there was not stained with the sad aftermath of cancer. With mom in-tow, a 2 man crew transported his bed into a nearby hospice home facility equipped to fulfill specific requests that we made in his behalf:
ACTIVELY DYING
HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
(also known as portosystemic encephalopathy) is the occurrence of confusion, altered levels of consciousness, or coma due to liver failure. In advanced stages it is called hepatic coma or coma hepaticum. It may ultimately lead to death. It is often caused by accumulation of toxic substances in the bloodstream that are normally removed by the liver.
APNEA
A temporary period of time in which an individual stops breathing. It literally means, "no breath."
RESPITE
A short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out.
Friday, July 27th, marks 7 weeks since dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. SEVEN. WEEKS. Based on Monday's physical assessment, our nurse informed us that he may not even make it that far. Dad hasn't eaten solids or consumed any liquids in almost 48 hours. He's also been sleeping a lot more. We can't even keep him conscious enough to take his pain meds. NOT a good sign.
Dad never wanted to be a hospice patient. Up until his oncologist revealed the dire results of his liver biopsy, dad still held onto the hope that he would be able to aggressively treat his cancer with chemotherapy and/or radiation. He planned to seek out a hospital in Arizona that boasted success in slowing down the progress of this nasty, nasty disease. He so badly wanted to fly to Lourdes, France with mom so that he could swim in "holy water" - checking off an item in his bucket list.
I guess it was never meant to be.
As a part of dad's final list of instructions, we moved him into a respite facility to spend his final days of life. He did NOT want to pass away in the home that he loved. He felt the need to preserve the special moments that our family shared together. It was of prime importance that what remained there was not stained with the sad aftermath of cancer. With mom in-tow, a 2 man crew transported his bed into a nearby hospice home facility equipped to fulfill specific requests that we made in his behalf:
- A private room that's big enough to accommodate a sleeping area for my mom (who absolutely refuses to leave dad's side.)
- 24 hour "visitation hours" that will allow any and/or all of us to stay by both of them for as long as we desire.
All that's left now is our faith, our family and the love that dad instilled in all of us to bolster us during these coming days.
ACTIVELY DYING
Death, like birth is a rite of passage that each one of us experiences. For some, death is a
sudden catastrophic event, for most it is a “process,” allowing time for preparation. As the
dying and their loved ones attempt to “deal” with death it is not unusual to experience a variety
of emotions that both help and hinder one’s ability to cope. Often family relationships become
tense and strained. Although each death is unique to the person, there are commonalities that occur
when dying extends over time, these include:
• Social changes, redefining “self” within the context of relationship;
• Emotional changes, addressing the inevitability of death and engages in attempts at “closure”;
• Spiritual changes, “life review,” reflections on “meaning,” addressing forgiveness and reconciliation,
making one’s peace;
• Physical changes, physiologic processes change as the body prepares to “shut down”
and “let go” . . . to die.
sudden catastrophic event, for most it is a “process,” allowing time for preparation. As the
dying and their loved ones attempt to “deal” with death it is not unusual to experience a variety
of emotions that both help and hinder one’s ability to cope. Often family relationships become
tense and strained. Although each death is unique to the person, there are commonalities that occur
when dying extends over time, these include:
• Social changes, redefining “self” within the context of relationship;
• Emotional changes, addressing the inevitability of death and engages in attempts at “closure”;
• Spiritual changes, “life review,” reflections on “meaning,” addressing forgiveness and reconciliation,
making one’s peace;
• Physical changes, physiologic processes change as the body prepares to “shut down”
and “let go” . . . to die.
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