luv2byte
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 25
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- WA
- City
- Kelso
I don't post here much but thought I would share that my incredible big brother passed last night. I thought if I shared our experience it might help others to feel less anxiety when their or their family members time comes.
Dennis's passing was so quick, very quick. Saturday morning he asked for his normal cup of coffee, I kept checking to see if cool enough to drink but by the time it was he was feeling a little queasy so we decided against the coffee. Saturday morning was a decline in his cognitive abilities from just Friday, by Saturday noon there was a HUGE difference. By the time he went to sleep for what has become his typical nap he slept the whole day without waking up. We could tell as the day went on that he was probably not going to wake up. His breathing patterns changed consistently has he slept and we could tell the end was near within a day or two, we just didn't quite expect it at the moment it happened.
Dennis had been coughing something horrible for a while now and having problems with his secretions, I noticed on Friday that wasn't really the case, he just seemed comfortable. Saturday it was more so, he just seemed comfortable. Its all I could keep saying to Diane. Now, I have to tell you a funny - Saturday morning Dennis asked me "Sis, where is Diane". I told him she was out on the patio but could I do something for him, CLEAR as we all speak he said "Yes, I want her to KNOCK me out", he said it in definitive, specific tone, not scared or mean or anything, just that is what he wanted. I asked him if he meant he wanted his pain meds so he could take a nap, he said yes. So I got Diane and she gave him his morphine. (I can't remember if this was his 1st dose that morning or his second). About 2hrs later, he was still awake, he again "Sis, where is Diane?", I told him she had just went out back to smoke a cigarette, what could I do for him? Again, just as clear as we all speak "Tell her to KNOCK ME OUT", I chuckled and asked if it was meds he wanted again, he said "Yes, knock me out". The tone he said it was just as much as one of us saying something to the point "I'm tired, I'm going to bed" and being very definitive about it. He also did NOT slur at all. So when it was time she gave him a dose of his other med that we know makes him sleepy since that is what he wanted. He promptly fell asleep. I had made the comment all day, wouldn't that be weird if that is the last thing my big brother said...damn it if it wasn't! about 8-10hrs later he died, VERY peacefully & with lots of love around him.
Dennis did donate his body to science, they asked him for his central nervous system. Someday Dennis may have played a role in finding a cause or cure for ALS from his selfless choice he made.
Out of the 4 deaths I have been part of watching & holding a bedside vigil, I've never seen one as swift & peaceful.
Ellie
RIP big brother, you will forever be loved & never leave my heart.
Dennis's passing was so quick, very quick. Saturday morning he asked for his normal cup of coffee, I kept checking to see if cool enough to drink but by the time it was he was feeling a little queasy so we decided against the coffee. Saturday morning was a decline in his cognitive abilities from just Friday, by Saturday noon there was a HUGE difference. By the time he went to sleep for what has become his typical nap he slept the whole day without waking up. We could tell as the day went on that he was probably not going to wake up. His breathing patterns changed consistently has he slept and we could tell the end was near within a day or two, we just didn't quite expect it at the moment it happened.
Dennis had been coughing something horrible for a while now and having problems with his secretions, I noticed on Friday that wasn't really the case, he just seemed comfortable. Saturday it was more so, he just seemed comfortable. Its all I could keep saying to Diane. Now, I have to tell you a funny - Saturday morning Dennis asked me "Sis, where is Diane". I told him she was out on the patio but could I do something for him, CLEAR as we all speak he said "Yes, I want her to KNOCK me out", he said it in definitive, specific tone, not scared or mean or anything, just that is what he wanted. I asked him if he meant he wanted his pain meds so he could take a nap, he said yes. So I got Diane and she gave him his morphine. (I can't remember if this was his 1st dose that morning or his second). About 2hrs later, he was still awake, he again "Sis, where is Diane?", I told him she had just went out back to smoke a cigarette, what could I do for him? Again, just as clear as we all speak "Tell her to KNOCK ME OUT", I chuckled and asked if it was meds he wanted again, he said "Yes, knock me out". The tone he said it was just as much as one of us saying something to the point "I'm tired, I'm going to bed" and being very definitive about it. He also did NOT slur at all. So when it was time she gave him a dose of his other med that we know makes him sleepy since that is what he wanted. He promptly fell asleep. I had made the comment all day, wouldn't that be weird if that is the last thing my big brother said...damn it if it wasn't! about 8-10hrs later he died, VERY peacefully & with lots of love around him.
Dennis did donate his body to science, they asked him for his central nervous system. Someday Dennis may have played a role in finding a cause or cure for ALS from his selfless choice he made.
Out of the 4 deaths I have been part of watching & holding a bedside vigil, I've never seen one as swift & peaceful.
Ellie
RIP big brother, you will forever be loved & never leave my heart.
