FaithBlacquiere

When my husband fell and broke his hip and was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2004, and I decided against the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order, doctors asked me why I would want him to live.  I had no reply then.  When he contracted pneumonia the doctor asked me to come out in the hall, and with traffic going by, told me “Your husband is dying”.  My reply was “Aren’t we all?”

He recovered from pneumonia and I eventually managed to bring him home.  The doctor told me that he would die within 2 weeks.  He lived 5 ½ years longer.  Our family has many good memories of the hugs, kisses, and smiles, and the songs he would sing even when he couldn’t talk.  And so now, looking back, I should have said to that doctor when asked about the DNR Order “I want him to live – what’s a kiss and a song worth?” 

The attachment contains a letter I sent to the head of the LHIN about my experiences with getting him home and providing homecare.  I did not receive a reply.

My philosophy is to do something each day that you enjoy, no matter what.
My advice is to ignore doctors when they say someone will die soon – it’s not over until it’s over – and no one knows when that will be.