OT: Prayers Requested
My MIL is in rapidly declining health. She is basically dieing of Congestive Heart Failure. Her heart is just slowing down and not pumping enough blood through her. Of course, this is now causing a handful of other problems. She can not even talk for more then a couple of minutes and she just about passes out. She can barely get up to the bathroom. She went to the doctors this week and they're telling her that there is nothing they can do to help her anymore. They tried adjusting her meds but basically she's terminal and it could be soon. Her abdomen is distended and painful for her. She's retaining sooo much fluid.
She really was supposed to die of heart disease about 4 or 5 years ago, so she's been blessed to have as long as she has but it sure isn't easy, no matter the age. I'm torn between taking the kids for one last visit or letting them remember her as they last saw her at Christmas - which was healthy and playing uno games with them. It breaks my heart!!!! We live over 3 hours away so a trip would be a big deal and hotel and what not. DH says he'd rather not take the kids, let them remember her healthy... UGH, It just breaks my heart!!!
Laurie
Laurie,
Sorry to hear of what your family is going through. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
If any help...... when I was about 10 or 11 my grandfather had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. I remember going up to the hospital with my dad, my brother and my two stepbrothers to see my grandfather after his surgery. He had tubes, iv's, oxygen, everything....... I couldn't even stay in the room. I did not see him much after that until he died, basically because it hurt too much to see him that way. For what it's worth, I would let the kids remember the fun times and not see her the way she is now.
Michelle
Oh Laurie,
I am so sorry your family has to go thru this. My Grandfather died of lung cancer when I was young, I went to see him in the hospital, He didn't even look like himself the Chemo had taken such a toll on him. My paw paw was a big jolly man, and the man I seen that day wasn't the man that I knew. I was devastated to say the least. I was so devastated I couldn't go to the funeral. I just keep telling my mom I wanted to remember my paw paw the way he used to be. No matter how hard I tried I can't erase the memory so deeply burned in my memory. I always try to think of the happy times, but I will always end up thinking of the last day I saw him. What is so sad is that about a year or so after he died my gran also got lung cancer, but she refused Chemo because she didn't want to suffer like Paw Paw. She caught it early, but still refused. I understood why she made her decision. She died peacefully the way she wanted.
You have to do what you feel is right for your family, from my experience it really cause so much more pain, with no benefit for anyone. You and your family are in my prayers, this is a very difficult time. God Bless and take care----Toni
Hi Laurie,
I am really sorry to hear of your MIL's failing health. My first inclination would be to ask the kids themsleves how they feel about the gramma being so sick. Are they old enough to grasp the concept of end-of-life issues? If things are properly explained and depemding on their age, I would let THEM decide if they want to see her one last time or not. Hope this helps. God Bless you all.
KathyG
Most Active
Recent Topics
