They moved my Aunt Kath to the 7th floor today. The 7th floor is the Palliative Care Unit. It's where all the cancer patients are. She's been sent here for "end of life" care. Grief, this isn't right! She's too darn young to be going through this! She's too good of a person to be going through this! This just isn't right! It isn't fair! It just makes me so dang mad!!!
I am a Believer, but I would be telling a lie if I said this doesn't make me mad at Him. I know He's in control and He has a reason for all He does, but darn - is this necessary? Really? She's got a heart of gold. She's a faithful person. She's a good person. She'd never do anything to hurt another. She loves her family and they've always come first in her life - even now - they still continue to come first with her...
I just don't understand...
She's no longer communicating with us. Her fever seems to be really high, her body is so hot. The nurses are so compassionate on this floor. We were worried that they would not have the time to give her the attention she would need for the pain medications she requires [she gets one shot every 15 minutes, one every hour and another every 4 hours], but they have been wonderful.
Atleast we're not being run out of her room like we were in ICU, and can stay in here around the clock and do not have to pick up a phone and be let in the door like we were in ICU. We are able to come and go much easier and be with her so much better. I think this is going to be easier for Grama to sit with her. She's had to do so much standing and walking while Kath has been in ICU...
Showing posts with label Palliative Care Unit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palliative Care Unit. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
DAY 8 - WEDNESDAY - 20 JANUARY 2010
It's an ugly day out. The heavens have opened and the angels are shedding their tears today. It's very dark and dreary. It's the ugliest day I've seen in sometime. Lightening everywhere. Flooding. Tornado watches and warnings. It foretells of sadness...
The doctor with Palliative Care came for an assessment today, along with Kath's surgeon and it was not good. This is hard to write. It's been very hard on the family, especially on my Grama... The doctors determined that the surgery was not successful and the scleroderma has completely taken over... Kath gave a DNR order and they have to abide by her wish. The ventilator was removed.
On the upside, Kath is awake and responsive today and it has been nice to be able to see her beautiful smile again. She's been able to talk some to us by a very gentle whisper with very few words. It's a wonderful blessing that we are so grateful for. To hear her tell us that she loves us has been music to our ears that we'll never forget, but will long to hear again, I'm sure in the near future.
She stayed pretty medicated throughout the day and night so visiting was very minimal as was communicating with Kath. Her energy is extremely low. Her fever is high and rising. Her pain is extremely high. It fluctuates between 8 and 10. She cannot be touched at all without putting her in worse pain. It's so heartbreaking. You want to hold her hand or rub her freezing cold feet, but it's too excruciating for her. She's breaking out in blisters from all the fluids - it has no where else to go. Just more pain... As if she didn't already have enough...
We pray they can make her comfortable and ease her pain. How will we make it without her...??? My Grama... My heart just aches for her... Mothers should not have to go through the loss of their children -- of any age!!
The doctor with Palliative Care came for an assessment today, along with Kath's surgeon and it was not good. This is hard to write. It's been very hard on the family, especially on my Grama... The doctors determined that the surgery was not successful and the scleroderma has completely taken over... Kath gave a DNR order and they have to abide by her wish. The ventilator was removed.
On the upside, Kath is awake and responsive today and it has been nice to be able to see her beautiful smile again. She's been able to talk some to us by a very gentle whisper with very few words. It's a wonderful blessing that we are so grateful for. To hear her tell us that she loves us has been music to our ears that we'll never forget, but will long to hear again, I'm sure in the near future.
She stayed pretty medicated throughout the day and night so visiting was very minimal as was communicating with Kath. Her energy is extremely low. Her fever is high and rising. Her pain is extremely high. It fluctuates between 8 and 10. She cannot be touched at all without putting her in worse pain. It's so heartbreaking. You want to hold her hand or rub her freezing cold feet, but it's too excruciating for her. She's breaking out in blisters from all the fluids - it has no where else to go. Just more pain... As if she didn't already have enough...
We pray they can make her comfortable and ease her pain. How will we make it without her...??? My Grama... My heart just aches for her... Mothers should not have to go through the loss of their children -- of any age!!
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