Vickaleesky
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2009
- Messages
- 22
- Diagnosis
- 10/2007
- Country
- US
- State
- UT
- City
- Layton
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Hello, I'm a part-time caregiver to my sister-in-law who was diagnosed with ALS in October of 2007. Her disease has progressed rapidly. She has been confined to a wheelchair for almost a year, she's getting so weak now that she has trouble pushing the controls, she's unable to do anything by herself, she's on oxygen, and Hospice has stated that they don't believe it will be long before she's totally confined to bed. Her speech is getting worse by the day but she still talks about 'when she gets better'. She has signed paperwork, in her early days of the disease, stating that she does not want a feeding or breathing tube, or any medication that would prolong her life; only wants to be medicated 'for comfort'. Is it fair to her (or my brother) to let her believe she's going to get better? Are we best off to ignore her comments? OR, do we help her to understand she is dying, in order to help prepare her for death? It's so heartbreaking.
Hello, I'm a part-time caregiver to my sister-in-law who was diagnosed with ALS in October of 2007. Her disease has progressed rapidly. She has been confined to a wheelchair for almost a year, she's getting so weak now that she has trouble pushing the controls, she's unable to do anything by herself, she's on oxygen, and Hospice has stated that they don't believe it will be long before she's totally confined to bed. Her speech is getting worse by the day but she still talks about 'when she gets better'. She has signed paperwork, in her early days of the disease, stating that she does not want a feeding or breathing tube, or any medication that would prolong her life; only wants to be medicated 'for comfort'. Is it fair to her (or my brother) to let her believe she's going to get better? Are we best off to ignore her comments? OR, do we help her to understand she is dying, in order to help prepare her for death? It's so heartbreaking.