Sometimes when situations feel stuck a nudge may be required. A change in mindset or plans may be necessary to escape limbo. Patients who may have been in relative stability might be prepared for discharge. Things cannot continue as they are. Normality can only be paused for so long. Children continue to grow up. School holidays start and finish. Jobs have to be worked. Life has to go on.
We had expected her to deteriorate within days. No one could have predicted she would be alive for weeks let alone enjoying some form of quality of life. She had outlived all prognostication attempts by many weeks and almost months. How? Fantastic support from family and friends. Good palliative care was directed by her wishes. We had promised to listen, to allow her to be the driver. We had kept the promise. To continue her steroid medication while she still enjoyed quality of life, as defined by her. We would wean the medication off if it wasn’t working any more if intolerable suffering occurred, if she was dying.
She made the most of each day. Eating food, drinking her husband’s coffee, and having visits from friends. Visits home for family meals and her favourite drinks including world-famous beers and gins. The four-legged family members had missed their mother so much. She enjoyed time in our garden and often caught some rays in the courtyard. Solid plans were being made for longer, overnight leaves at home. Her husband had been trained to deal with problems that might crop up at home. Everything was being prepared for more time at home.
We had stopped being surprised by her long lack of deterioration. When the final deterioration occurred it came as a shock. A slight cough turned into a likely chest infection. Her swallowing ability had fluctuated markedly over the past weeks. A mis-swallow had allowed food or drink to be breathed into her lungs. This aspiration led to pneumonia. We offered antibiotics and hospital admission. They knew she didn’t want to go back to a hospital, a place of great stress for all of them. No antibiotics, thank you.
When it was clear she was dying they wanted to take her home. They were willing to accept the risk of dying en route as they knew she wanted to die at home. Mission accomplished. She spent her final hours with her family, furry ones included. Mixed in with the many tears of sadness were some scant droplets of relief. She was here until she wasn’t.
Rest in peace dear lady.
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