Sad News from Sydney, Australia

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends

I bring you the sad news that my Jim died last Saturday night in the Royal North

Shore Hospital in Sydney.

Jim had been in hospital three weeks, originally going in because he was

refusing to eat and drink. With very warm weather at the time (temperatures of

35 degrees celsius = 95 degrees fahrenheit and more)he became quickly

dehydrated.

He was on a saline drip for two weeks but was only eating teaspoonfuls of food.

For a while I thought I was going to be able to bring him home and nurse him

there. Arrangements were made to hire a hospital bed with an air mattress and

for extra household help to be available as it required two people to turn him.

However his condition deteriorated before that could happen. Once the drip was

removed and they began to administer morphine , I decided that he needed to stay

in hospital.

I lived at the hospital 24/7 for the last five days, helping to reposition him -

something he found very painful and would cause him to panic - and just spending

as much time as I could with him. After five days without food and drink, he

fell into a coma. It was so hard to see him waste away and when he died it was

such a relief.

The funeral is this Friday (18th).

I have donated his brain to Neuroscience Research Australia.

I could not have cared for Jim without the love, support and encouragement of my

family, my friends and my faith.

I also appreciate the support of this group, as well as the wealth of

information I gained from the group.

Thank you to you all.

I look forward to being a more active part of the group once I have caught up on

much needed sleep!

Elaine (61) from Sydney Australia

Carer for husband Jim (82) who was offically diagnosed LBD Oct 2009, but

symptoms began at least 5 years before.