My grandmother is in the hospital on life support. When I was up there earlier she was breathing alittle on her own. But now she is not breathing on her own and her heart is not beating on its own. The machine is doing everything. Whay my family and I cant figure out is why this happened? She went to the hospital 2 days ago bc she had a mild heartattack. But yesterday and this morning she was fine. About 6:30 am this morning her heart completely stopped they did the shock thing for one hour trying to get a hartbeat and they finally did. But then they sent her to a bigger more experienced hospital and none of the doctors can figure out what made her heart stop she has no blockages or anything. It just stopped beating. But now she is so unstable they cant even run test to figure out what caused this to happen all in less than 24 hours. Now they are saying her kidneys and lungs are fading fast and they might have to (PULL THE PLUG) as they call it. But they are going to wait and do more test tomorrow to see if they can helpo her heartbeat on its on. I want to know what are the chances of her surviving when she cant breathe on her own her heart isnt beating on its own and her blood pressure drops to the floor if the meds run out of her IV and she is half brain dead? What are the chances of her survivng? Please I want answers and no BS. I want the truth no sugar coating please!!!!!!!!!!! :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Without the heart beating there is NO chance of survival honey! :'( Depending on how old she is, and if they can stabilize her she could be a candidate for a heart replacement surgery! The thing is medicine can keep you "alive" with machines! It will be up to the family - if they can't stabilize her - wether to let her go or keep her hanging on through machines! Hopefully your grandma has talked to her family about her wishes - a Living Will - So everyone is clear what she wants if this were to happen to her! It is such an AWFUL time for families, BUT they HAVE to think about what is best for their loved ones! So much love and strength out to you and your family honey!
Well the doctor said the only thing keeping ALIVE as they call it is the meds and the machine. She isnt doing anything on her own now. But I dont know why this happened the doctors cant even figure it out. So do you think that even though the machine is pumping her heart now that she might be able to stablize it on her own soon? They said if her heart is doing anything on its on by sunday (Valentines Day) then they will pull her off. But I'm wooried about my grandpa too he is my best friend in the whole wide world and he was up at the hopsital 2 months ago bc his heart was stopping he had a massive heartattack and they saved his life. They said he only had 30 mins to live when they got to the hospital but they did emercensy surgery and put stents in. But my grandmother isnt even stable enough for them to even run any test such as cascans and MRI's anything. I think this is the end of the road. And she has bee like a mother to me for almost 18 years so this is really hard. :'(
Srry I saw a misprint. They said if her heart ISNT doing anything own its own then they will take her off on sunday (Valentines Day)
I understood honey! The spirit is a magical thing! And IF she can pull out of this she WILL! Sometimes the body is so broken it is too hard for them! And doctors CANT know everything all the time! So I will do a prayer for her and your family! I'm sure she has discussed this with your Grandad - especially after he had a close call! God Bless Honey! :'(
Thank you bambi for being a friend to me and talking to me. I know I've been going through alot here lately and I'm glad that you are here to keep my hopes up and try to get through this. Prayer is grately appreciated right now and that is all we can do right now is put it in Gods hands. :'( :-)
Your Grandma will do what's right for HER honey!!!! IF she can fight she will, and IF she is tired she will rest! She will let you know! I'm always here for you honey!
Well I know she has heard me today I went back and sat in the room with her even though she couldnt open her eyes or talk. This morning I was talkign toher and tears started rolling down her face. And this afternoon I think she was trying to tell me she was proud of me bc she squeezed my hand and more tears came. But when I got the phone call that her heart had stopped again, I couldnt breathe I felt as if someone had stabbed me in the chest with a dagger. I know she heard me and I'm wondering if the squeeze was her telling me it was almost her time??????? I wish I could do something but. I just got an update and they think she is completely gone. But now I can't get to the hospital bc there is 6 inches of ice and snow down here so I'm stuck in my house for a few days. Until I can find someone with 4 wheel drive.. :'(
Sometimes loved ones who are passing on need to have no restraint holding them back! IF this is her time, she said goodbye with her squeezing your hand honey! They always need to know that their loved ones are OK? You WILL know IF she passes honey! They always give signs of some sort to others! I send strength and love to you honey! And just know that IF she passes on, she is not hurting anymore and will pass in peace!
Yea I now. Well I just got a phone call from my dad this morning bc he stayed up at the hospital with my grandpa. The doctor came in and is trying to convince them to go ahead and decide to take her off the life support. But my grandpa is now getting ready to be put in the E.R.bc he was having chest pain and his face is pale white. So this is not a good valentines and my son there great grandson will be 1 next sunday. My grandma and I were talking about his party the other night. She said I better bring an extra t-shirt for lucas bc she is going to bring a small cake and let him shove it in his face. lol But all I can do is remember the good times. But we are all in shock bc this happened so fast. :'(
TM you have my sincere sympathy, it's a very difficult situation and it's worse when you are not in charge and can only observe.
I can't pretend to say what to do but I can tell you about my two somewhat recent experiences witn death.
My father in law came home for dinner and went to take a nap while his wife (2d wife, not my wife's mother) was getting it ready. When she went to get him, she couldn't wake him and called 911. They took him to the hospital where they stabilized him. He was unable to move, talk, swallow but my wife's brother and sister insisted they keep him going and try to rehab him. It didn't work and after about 3 months they pulled his feeding tube and let him die.
He had a living will that stated DNR but they did it anyway. I can never forget the look in the poor man's eyes every time I went with my wife to visit him. His eyes were pleading with me to help him, but there was nothing I could do. His family was in charge.
As far as I'm concerned he died peacefully in his sleep that morning. They drug him back, tortured him for 3 months and then starved him to death.
A few years later my mother died at 102 in a nursing home.
They called me one day about noon to tell me that she refused to go for breakfast that morning when they came to get her. She was able to get around with a walker but they took it away because she insisted on having her security blanket with her, hanging over the bar on the walker. She had tripped over it several times and they didn't want that happening any more. They made her ride in a wheel chair. She told them she was going to die today so she didn't need to eat. They were calling to tell me she decided she was hungry by noon and she ate. We just figured that was her messing with their minds.
That night about midnite they called to say she wasn't acting like herself and they felt I should come over. She kept seeing a man at the foot of her bed and wanted him to go away. By the time we got there she was in a condition where she would stop breathing for a minute or so then gasp and begin breathing again. The doctors have a name for that but I don't remember what it is. I sat with her until she died the next day at 3:21 pm. I made sure they made her as comfortable as possible as she was dying and I feel completely at peace about that. She would not have wanted them to do any more and I was not about to force anything.
I hope my stories will help you in some way.
I can't pretend to say what to do but I can tell you about my two somewhat recent experiences witn death.
My father in law came home for dinner and went to take a nap while his wife (2d wife, not my wife's mother) was getting it ready. When she went to get him, she couldn't wake him and called 911. They took him to the hospital where they stabilized him. He was unable to move, talk, swallow but my wife's brother and sister insisted they keep him going and try to rehab him. It didn't work and after about 3 months they pulled his feeding tube and let him die.
He had a living will that stated DNR but they did it anyway. I can never forget the look in the poor man's eyes every time I went with my wife to visit him. His eyes were pleading with me to help him, but there was nothing I could do. His family was in charge.
As far as I'm concerned he died peacefully in his sleep that morning. They drug him back, tortured him for 3 months and then starved him to death.
A few years later my mother died at 102 in a nursing home.
They called me one day about noon to tell me that she refused to go for breakfast that morning when they came to get her. She was able to get around with a walker but they took it away because she insisted on having her security blanket with her, hanging over the bar on the walker. She had tripped over it several times and they didn't want that happening any more. They made her ride in a wheel chair. She told them she was going to die today so she didn't need to eat. They were calling to tell me she decided she was hungry by noon and she ate. We just figured that was her messing with their minds.
That night about midnite they called to say she wasn't acting like herself and they felt I should come over. She kept seeing a man at the foot of her bed and wanted him to go away. By the time we got there she was in a condition where she would stop breathing for a minute or so then gasp and begin breathing again. The doctors have a name for that but I don't remember what it is. I sat with her until she died the next day at 3:21 pm. I made sure they made her as comfortable as possible as she was dying and I feel completely at peace about that. She would not have wanted them to do any more and I was not about to force anything.
I hope my stories will help you in some way.
Thank you so much for the stories. I just don't want her to suffer. And in some way I wish she would wake up so I could knw what she was trying to tell me when she cryed to me. But I just got an update and she is breathing alittle on her own and her heart is beating own its only but its a really faint heartbeat. So she is doing better and they think they can take her off of life support but they are not going to try yet until her blood pressure is better. Just please everyone keep her in your prayers!!!!!!!!! :'( :-)
Well I went to see my grandmother this afternoon. She is doing a whole lot better now. Her heartbeat is stable and her blood pressure is stable. They are still trying to get her to breathe a little bit more on her own. But I was talking to her and I finally got her to open her eyes wide open. So she is doing better now. I hope it continues to go the pace it is going now and maybe we can get her off life support soon. :-D
I am SO happy for you! It will be a battle for her, BUT she has gotten through the most critical stages! Just keep her calm and relaxed, dont' try to have her engage too much - as this is VERY tiring for the body! If she likes reading or stories just sit there and read to her or talk about things going on in the world! When they are "Out of it!" Physically and Mentally then a lot of times they like to hear about what they "missed'! Also IF she gets to a stage where she wants to "say things" take a pad and pen and write them down for her! A lot of people who have had near death experiences, NEED to say things or have them said to others! So always have a pen and pad ready for her to tell you! Just like when you held her hand and she cried, you REALLY wanted to know what she said! Others might need to know what she is thinking, OR she wants it to be noted etc.! I wrote down everything that my mom said, sometimes as soon as I got home , so I would remember! Just like I did with my kids - ALL their REALLY neat and funny intelligent thoughts etc. Because when we are under stress or just life we forget what someone said!
That's a good idea but right now she cant talk and they are not letting her off enough meds to be completely awake bc of the life support tube down her throat. So she can't talk yet but she can respond by squeezing hands and I am the only one that could get her to open her eyes. So my grandpa just held me and thanked me for doing that. I just talked to her and she looked at me. And I know she could see me bc the nurse told me to move my hand back and forth to see if she could follow. And she couldn't move her neck or head but she did follow me with her eyes. So I'm so happy and giddy with joy. :-D