From Preventative Care to Comfort Care

Well, Dad has decided that we're only going to give Mom comfort care and not preventative/ treatment care. If she has another heart attack or seizure (they're not sure what this last thing was), then she'll stay at her assisted living. She won't get any of the medications recommended by the doctors.

I spoke withe the nurse at Mom's facility who agrees with all of this. Mom's so far along that we shouldn't do anything to prolong her life.

I did convince Dad to start giving Mom the herb passionflower, which should make her more relaxed and help prevent seizures. That's a comfort issue, I convinced him. She won't get garlic to thin her blood and prevent heart attacks. That's a prolonging life issue, he thinks.

I can't really complain because I was the one who pushed for us to talk about this. I just feel majorly out of the decision-making processes that went on this week. I feel far away and distant. But, I'm also starting to get productive again and grateful to not be in the middle of the mishugas. Its lonely being so far away and without people to talk about it here. But, I'm also able to live somewhat of a more normal life...to actually be able to have a life.

Link