Dick passed away July 15th after one year of diagnosed. I want to share my experience with you so you never have to experience what I went thru. I fed Dick breakfast. He went down for a nap and I put his bi-bap on him. He wanted to get up and use the bathroom. He started coughing and then choking and couldn't stop. He told me he was going to die. He had green phlem a few days prior and I called hospice .No one checked on him. Also 5 days prior he told me his parents were here in our house to take care of him (they both died over 25 years ago) I thought that was a sign the end was near and called hospice and again no one came. You have to understand that hospice promised me he would die peacefully and they would keep monitoring him and eventually give him as much morphine as needed to keep him comfortable. They also told me now that he was on hospice that I was to call them and NOT 911. They made that very clear.... I went into a panic because Dick was turning blue and gray. I called hospice and got the answering service because it was a Saturday. A nurse woud call me back. I knew Dick did not want a vent or artificial breathing but I knew he did not want to die like this. I called my neighbors and they were there in 2 minutes. Thank God they took over everything. They called 911 and gave him CPR. The paramedics arrived & stabilized Dick & got him back breathing. The hospice nurse still was not there. It was horrific. We had the medical slip posted on the refrigerator. They asked if I wanted him to go to the hospital that I only had a few more minutes left to say goodbye otherwise. I didn't know what to do because Dick had said many times he just wants to die. I just stood there and didn't answer. They asked Dick if he wanted to go the hospital and he said yes. They took him and put him on a vent. They removed the vent and he was coherent, joking with the nurses and was able to say goodbye to all of his children and he passed peacefully the next morning.ONE WEEK LATER hospice called & wanted to come over & show me how to lift Dick up & also meet our new nurse replacing the one on vacation. I am so grateful to our neighbors & EMT's. There is no excuse for the above & I feel guilty for not being more assertive.CALL 911 & don't let hospice intimidate
you or let your loved one suffer needlessly like I did.
Phyl
you or let your loved one suffer needlessly like I did.
Phyl