It's been a crazy week for me... T & P

butterfly62682 · July 2012

All summer I have been planning to make a trip to see family that lives about 5 hours a way. Last week on Monday my cousin came down to meet a friend and we had lunch. I found out from her that my grandmother was put into the hospital on the Friday before. She was really weak, not eating, and very disoriented. I decided then that I would be making a trip up this past Sunday.

My grandmother was sent home from the hospital last Tuesday and then was readmitted early Thursday morning. Long story short, they released her too early. Her respiratory doctor says she has the worst case of pneumonia he has ever seen. Currently she is fully sedated and dependent on a breathing machine to even be alive. We have no idea if she will pull through but according to the doctors/nurses it looks really bleak.

She is the critical care unit right now and they have put everything on hold until next week as far as trying to wean her from the ventilator. They swabbed her lungs to see what type of bacteria she has and have her on two very strong antibiotics. So next week she will either start getting better or we will be making the decision to remove her from the ventilator.

I decided to come back home because there was no use sitting around waiting. It's good to be back home, I just hate it being so up in the air with my grandmother. Please keep her and my family in your thoughts and prayers. It's either going to be a hard recovery or a very hard decision for the family. My grandmother's last night conscience she told my cousin that she was ready to die. That she was so tired. Tired of not being able to do anything and so very tired of hurting.

I am still processing all of my feeling surrounding everything. So anything you can spare for us would be appreciated.

Oh and on top of all of that....we are TEETHING again. UGH

M&M227 · July 2012

I'm so sorry. My grandmother passed away a few years ago right after a surgery and it was a long difficult time. Even after she was off of ventilators and such it was a while and it was so terrible to be sitting around waiting.

ladybug122 · July 2012

I'm so sorry

Sending you and your family lots of T&Ps!

kayjay10 · July 2012

I'm so sorry to hear this

Thoughts and prayers going up for you.

lovebugkim · July 2012

Here's to hoping things turn around for you & your family. Sending thoughts & prayers your way!!

JuneBugsMommy · July 2012

I'm so sorry to hear this! Prayers and hugs to you and your family!

mesr · July 2012

so sorry to hear that your grandmother isn't doing well. stay strong!

LollyBug18 · July 2012

Sounds like a really rough week. I remember when my grandma got really sick and I was over 4 hours away, it was hard. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

Jills83 · July 2012

I'm so sorry Butterfly. This is hard to deal with and your post made me cry. My grandma passed last month and, even though she was very old, it was hard to watch her slipping away. I hope your family can find peace in whatever decision they make.

MammaBear81 · July 2012

I'm so sorry! My grandfather passed away last year (right after his 95th birthday) and although it was sad, we all knew it was his time. I'm not sure if you are at that point yet, but it seems like your grandmother is, as hard as it was to let go, I know he isn't in any pain anymore, which made it a little easier to process. I know we all want our family members to live forever, but I try to keep in mind the quality of life they have, and what when/if they got better, when would be the next downward spiral. I hope it doesn't sound heartless, but I'm glad my grandfather didn't go up and down many times before the end, the two times he did were horrible for everyone involved, and HE felt bad for putting stress on the family, he simply stated that his body knows when the time is right, and let it be.

butterfly62682 · July 2012

MammaBear81:
I'm so sorry! My grandfather passed away last year (right after his 95th birthday) and although it was sad, we all knew it was his time. I'm not sure if you are at that point yet, but it seems like your grandmother is, as hard as it was to let go, I know he isn't in any pain anymore, which made it a little easier to process. I know we all want our family members to live forever, but I try to keep in mind the quality of life they have, and what when/if they got better, when would be the next downward spiral. I hope it doesn't sound heartless, but I'm glad my grandfather didn't go up and down many times before the end, the two times he did were horrible for everyone involved, and HE felt bad for putting stress on the family, he simply stated that his body knows when the time is right, and let it be.

Not heartless at all. We all understand and respect her wishes. We are trying to give her body time to respond to medication first before we make any decisions. But if it comes down to the end and she hasn't improved any then we will know it's her time to go. We all know that she is ready.