ThisPresentMoment
Distinguished member
- Joined
- May 30, 2018
- Messages
- 124
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 12/2017
- Country
- US
- State
- MN
- City
- Minneapolis
My Dad slipped away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 30. ALS took his ability to move, to swallow, to speak, and finally to breathe, but it didn't take his joy or his strong faith.
Diagnosis was the end of December 2017, though he'd had symptoms for at least two years prior. Possibly progression was so quick because he was older than most PALS at diagnosis, (in his 70s), though he'd been healthy and active until then.
The end came quicker than we imagined. We had only gone on hospice last Friday. He was having problems with increased secretions. They recommended increased comfort meds which did stop him from choking and made him more comfortable. His body was not tolerating food. He began to become less responsive.
Tuesday evening we told him it was OK to go. The most important thing to us was to follow his wishes. We also did not want to see him suffer. Wednesday morning they recommended we contact family. We thought we might have a few days, but he slipped away peacefully with us at his bedside in early evening. We never had to make the decision to remove the mask, and for that I was thankful.
I wanted to give some details of how it went for one family. Of course, everyone is different.
I can't thank everyone on the forum enough for helping us through this past year. We would never have kept up with the relentless pace of the progression without you. Thank you for helping us, help him, live the best life that he could in the time that he had.
He was a very good man. Friends would ask my parents to adopt them. He spoke into so many peoples lives. He was loving and supportive. I was blessed to be his daughter. He would want you to know that you are loved and beautiful. I can't wait for you to meet him someday in eternity.
Diagnosis was the end of December 2017, though he'd had symptoms for at least two years prior. Possibly progression was so quick because he was older than most PALS at diagnosis, (in his 70s), though he'd been healthy and active until then.
The end came quicker than we imagined. We had only gone on hospice last Friday. He was having problems with increased secretions. They recommended increased comfort meds which did stop him from choking and made him more comfortable. His body was not tolerating food. He began to become less responsive.
Tuesday evening we told him it was OK to go. The most important thing to us was to follow his wishes. We also did not want to see him suffer. Wednesday morning they recommended we contact family. We thought we might have a few days, but he slipped away peacefully with us at his bedside in early evening. We never had to make the decision to remove the mask, and for that I was thankful.
I wanted to give some details of how it went for one family. Of course, everyone is different.
I can't thank everyone on the forum enough for helping us through this past year. We would never have kept up with the relentless pace of the progression without you. Thank you for helping us, help him, live the best life that he could in the time that he had.
He was a very good man. Friends would ask my parents to adopt them. He spoke into so many peoples lives. He was loving and supportive. I was blessed to be his daughter. He would want you to know that you are loved and beautiful. I can't wait for you to meet him someday in eternity.
