Don and Kennelly

[Guest guest]

Just an update on Don. This is an email from K. which I got her

permission to post here.

Don was sent home from the U of Chicago with the news that there was

nothing more that they could do for him and " Oh yes, he would be remiss

if he didn't suggest a living will and power of attorney. Our boys

were with us and we just felt like we had been slugged. Needless to say

it was not a fun ride home. We suggested transplant and they said he

was too old and there were several things against him.

I mentioned that we knew several who still would do transplant on older

patients and the doc said by all means check it out.

Don said " NO, no more " ! So we came home and he has been out very

little since then. He has basically given up, which is no surprise to

anyone. He spends most of his time either in the chair or in bed

sleeping. He lately has been walking and talking in his sleep and has

fallen a couple of times, one ended in a trip to the ER for stitches.

After our trip to Chicago he mentioned that it is time to contact

hospice and so we can get everyone ready for the transition. That is

what we did. Hospice is not here so much for him as much as for me. He

is well taken care of, but I am going to need someone to call on in the

middle of the night if things go awry. The RN on the case is a friend

of mine and just lives aroundd the corner. That is about all there is

going on here. I try to cope on a day by day basis.