Monday, December 21, 2020

 As of latest updates from Andy yesterday Mom was still hanging in there.

He sent this around 5:00 pm AZ time: I spoke to Dr. Graziano a little while ago, just before her shift ended.  No big changes but the morphine drip is set up and Mom is resting more comfortably with her eyes closed as though she is sleeping.  Her breathing is less labored, with occasional pauses after which she’ll take a big breath. The doctor said that in end-of-life situations the pauses will typically get longer and eventually the breathing will cease altogether, though it is impossible to predict exactly when that will be.  Mom has not needed any of the meds for nausea, anxiety, or fever. Obviously, they will let me know if this changes significantly.

And then around 8:00 pm AZ time: I just spoke with Mom’s nurse Esther. She's still hanging in there. BP at 8:30 was 103/48.  Breathing “softly.”  Oxygen level is in low nineties but occasionally dips into eighties. Receiving morphine for comfort. Esther spoke to her and was able to get her to open her eyes briefly in response



There was no no e-mail awaiting me when I got up this morning, which I take as a possible sign that Mom made it through the night. Unless Andy decided to wait until morning to call with news?


It's still early here -


and in fact Andy may not even be awake there despite it being two hours later there.


SO glad we were able to Zoom "with" her yesterday.  And while it didn't make up for my two missed trips to see her this year, it did help in this terrible time.

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