Latest update on my mother
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 3:18 pm
Hello cherries. Its been a very long weekend and things are not looking good for my mother. The quality of life, or lack thereof, has helped us with our decision as a family (My father, brother and I).
As most of you know, she had her gall bladder taken out last Wednesday because it was diseased. The surgery was a success and the surgeon stated that if that was all that was holding her back, she would be feeling much better by Friday afternoon/evening. Unfortunetly, that was not the case. Not even 15 minutes after my dad arrived at the hospital on Friday, Mom had another seizure. They put her on anti-seizure medication and move her BACK to ICU. Took them about 15 minutes to stabalize her. Then 2PM comes around - another seizure. They put her on even STRONGER meds. Trying to keep her calm. Cat Scan on brain was performed at 3:30PM.
On Saturday, they inserted a feeding tube because she was not eating. Sunday morning, she ends up having another stroke. Cat scan showed abnormalities. Neurologist stated the "abnormalities" are collapsed blood vessels - scattered throughout the brain. They ran some tests to see how her responsive rate was and it was bleak. You can squeeze her hand and she sometimes doesn't squeeze back. You can talk to her and she will not wake up very often. And when she DOES wake up, she will stare at you before going back to sleep. By yesterday morning, we were told her body was shutting down. Her body is only taking in/absorbing about 10% of the food from the feeding tube. They have her set up to receive 450 cc (every 6 hours) and she is taking in about 25 cc. Her urine output is less and less every few hours despite getting fluids. She is; however, breathing on her own and her heart is still pumping. Her medical team discussed us signing a DNR which my dad has signed and my brother and I have agreed to.
My father has another meeting today with her doctor, head nurse and neurologist. There is nothing more staff in the ICU can do for her. When they have a room available, they will move her from ICU and just make her "comfortable". Currently, she is not in pain, but they have taken her off of her bp medication and anti-seizure medication. I believe she's been off of medication for the last 36 hours.
I want to thank you all for the continuous prayers, thoughts, virtual hugs, etc. They are very much needed as my family and I play the "One day at a time" game.
As most of you know, she had her gall bladder taken out last Wednesday because it was diseased. The surgery was a success and the surgeon stated that if that was all that was holding her back, she would be feeling much better by Friday afternoon/evening. Unfortunetly, that was not the case. Not even 15 minutes after my dad arrived at the hospital on Friday, Mom had another seizure. They put her on anti-seizure medication and move her BACK to ICU. Took them about 15 minutes to stabalize her. Then 2PM comes around - another seizure. They put her on even STRONGER meds. Trying to keep her calm. Cat Scan on brain was performed at 3:30PM.
On Saturday, they inserted a feeding tube because she was not eating. Sunday morning, she ends up having another stroke. Cat scan showed abnormalities. Neurologist stated the "abnormalities" are collapsed blood vessels - scattered throughout the brain. They ran some tests to see how her responsive rate was and it was bleak. You can squeeze her hand and she sometimes doesn't squeeze back. You can talk to her and she will not wake up very often. And when she DOES wake up, she will stare at you before going back to sleep. By yesterday morning, we were told her body was shutting down. Her body is only taking in/absorbing about 10% of the food from the feeding tube. They have her set up to receive 450 cc (every 6 hours) and she is taking in about 25 cc. Her urine output is less and less every few hours despite getting fluids. She is; however, breathing on her own and her heart is still pumping. Her medical team discussed us signing a DNR which my dad has signed and my brother and I have agreed to.
My father has another meeting today with her doctor, head nurse and neurologist. There is nothing more staff in the ICU can do for her. When they have a room available, they will move her from ICU and just make her "comfortable". Currently, she is not in pain, but they have taken her off of her bp medication and anti-seizure medication. I believe she's been off of medication for the last 36 hours.
I want to thank you all for the continuous prayers, thoughts, virtual hugs, etc. They are very much needed as my family and I play the "One day at a time" game.
