Your thoughts about dying and suicide really hit me. Thank you. Watching Lee travel that road with perseverance and humility is a memory i will have for my lifetime. As a child of Abba, Lee accepted what God was allowing, and provided an opportunity for others to draw nearer to the Father in prayer. Even our dying can be a witness to the goodness, grace and mercy of the Father.
Thank you Mark. All good thoughts and a springboard for the difficult conversations we need to have with our loved ones. I am an older Registered Nurse working full time in an acute care setting. I see the often unnecessary suffering caused by folks wanting to keep themselves and their loved ones alive forever. Insisting on treatment when the probability of a good outcome is nil and side effects of treatment may lead to further suffering.
One common scenario: Nana has Alzheimers and hasn't recognized family for months, she is listed as a full code. Nana develops a cough, then a temperature. The Nursing Home calls the family and asks if they want Nana to be hospitalized. "Do what you think is right." The NH has to protect themselves so off Nana goes. The hospital has to protect themselves as well so treatment begins. Nana is sick and frightened, different strangers are poking and touching her, the lights are so bright, she hears a constant cacophony of beeps and bells. The antibiotics might help the possible pneumonia but often times can lead to intractable diarrhea which can lead to skin breakdown. So in an effort to do what's right Nana is legally traumatized and if she survives her mental status may have declined and she'll be physically more fragile than ever.
We have to have these difficult discussions with one another so that we can more fully enjoy this brief time we have on Earth together. We need to think about palliative care rather than buy into the myth of restorative care at any age or circumstance. We have to step up as a society and support families to provide loving, respectful care for their sick or dying family member at home. We are not going to live forever in this life. With God's help and Jesus's ultimate sacrifice we have the hope of eternal life.
Your thoughts about dying and suicide really hit me. Thank you. Watching Lee travel that road with perseverance and humility is a memory i will have for my lifetime. As a child of Abba, Lee accepted what God was allowing, and provided an opportunity for others to draw nearer to the Father in prayer. Even our dying can be a witness to the goodness, grace and mercy of the Father.
Thank you Mark. All good thoughts and a springboard for the difficult conversations we need to have with our loved ones. I am an older Registered Nurse working full time in an acute care setting. I see the often unnecessary suffering caused by folks wanting to keep themselves and their loved ones alive forever. Insisting on treatment when the probability of a good outcome is nil and side effects of treatment may lead to further suffering.
One common scenario: Nana has Alzheimers and hasn't recognized family for months, she is listed as a full code. Nana develops a cough, then a temperature. The Nursing Home calls the family and asks if they want Nana to be hospitalized. "Do what you think is right." The NH has to protect themselves so off Nana goes. The hospital has to protect themselves as well so treatment begins. Nana is sick and frightened, different strangers are poking and touching her, the lights are so bright, she hears a constant cacophony of beeps and bells. The antibiotics might help the possible pneumonia but often times can lead to intractable diarrhea which can lead to skin breakdown. So in an effort to do what's right Nana is legally traumatized and if she survives her mental status may have declined and she'll be physically more fragile than ever.
We have to have these difficult discussions with one another so that we can more fully enjoy this brief time we have on Earth together. We need to think about palliative care rather than buy into the myth of restorative care at any age or circumstance. We have to step up as a society and support families to provide loving, respectful care for their sick or dying family member at home. We are not going to live forever in this life. With God's help and Jesus's ultimate sacrifice we have the hope of eternal life.