DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum This weekend/Hospice ?

This weekend was very strange and sad for me. My Pops has had cancer for many years now but has been going downhill pretty quick lately. He has not been able to communicate well and hasn't been eating much in the last few weeks. He has had 2 brain tumors removed just in the last year alone. Anyway on saturday afternoon I was gambling and won more money that I had ever did before. The only time I had won more before is when I was with my dad awhile ago. The strange thing was that the money I won was almost the exact same that I had won with him(won maybe 50 dollars more this time).

Now on sunday,about 4 o'clock I'm home and nothing unusual but I get this strange feeling and feel God(or whoever) is telling me my Dad's brain was now dead from the cancer but he was still alive. So this feeling was so powerfull I got really upset and was a wreck for maybe hour. That night I talk to my Dad and my sister who is watching out for him in Florida. She says he had a good day and he sounds somewhat ok.

About 2 this morning I get a call and I found out my Dad and sister were outwalking in the neighborhood and he collapsed on her. Although my sister is small she was able to get him home and take him to the hospital. He's alive but barely. His chances for making a recovery are none. His living will says no foods or liquids if he's in this state so we are going to honor that and put him into Hospice care in the hospital today. He has maybe 3 or 4 days left.

I find it very strange that I was prepared yesterday. When I got the phone call I was upset but was calm because of what happened this weekend. Although I was just down there last week I feel I should go back and see him again even if he won't recognize me. I don't know much about Hospice care but from everything I've heard they are very nice and my Pops shouldn't be in much pain. Is anybody famaliar with Hospice ?

Thanks for listening everyone.

I'm very sorry.

Stay strong, good luck to you and your family.

My thoughts are with you . As for seeing him I'd just say do whatever you feel is right .

Sorry to hear about your dad.

Hospice is great for both the patient and the family. The help to keep the patient as comfortable as possible while also giving support to the family. A woman I work with had her father in Hospice last year before passing, and she praised the program. They went as far as sending a massotherapist to the house to massage her father, as well as other family members for stress relief.

I'll keep your father and family in my thoughts.

Sorry to hear this.

I lost both parents in the course of one year. I believe when you know it's inevitable there is a peace given you. it stengthens you and I fully feel that your father, or those doing the suffering, are given even greater peace or grace to face and accept their own passing.

My parents passed 18 years ago. Fond memories keep them very much alive
and I'm always asking them, "what the heck should I do now" when in tight spots!

I wish you and yours the best.

first Id like to say thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones.....

Hospice is the perfect situation for your father as of now. The nurses are usally amongst the nicest and most compassionite peole out there.. My g/f 's Brother fought Brain Cancer for 3 years (he was 28 when he got sick).... The last 2 years they had hospice there for him and his wife and they both benefited from it...especially his wife.... They understand the situation very well and are able to help both the family and patient with coping, they can also provide gateways to other services you need in preparation for your fathers passing...... They will work hard to make sure he is comfortable and he has a good quality of life while he's still here...... and when dealing with an ill loved one quality of life is what its all about......

once again sorry to hear about this and best wishes to you and your family

Thanks everyone and also for the hospice info. I also found some stuff Dawgylama had sent me sometime ago as well as talk to them today. Sounds like he will be out of it and on some hard medications which is really the best thing if he has no chance. They also seem like they will help us with the other issues which is nice of them. Thanks again.

I'm sorry to hear OSU... I am happy though that it seems God helped you prepare a little...

hospice usually offers a very good service. They are experienced nurses who deal with death on a regular basis.... they are allowed to administer drugs at home unlike home health nurses and therefore do a great job at keeping their patients in a comfortable state...

now I'm sure each hospice nurse is different, but the ones I've delt with have been great. I've met several through my work and my grandfather has been on hospice care for about a month now.

Out here we have Hospice of the Valley. They helped my wife considerably not only with her dad who passed away 4 years ago, but now with her mom who has Alzheimers. My wife was the youngest of 3 children and even at 50 she was her daddy's little girl. Hospice has helped her considerably deal with her grief. My prayers for your dad, you and family.

I had to put both of my parents in Hospice care before they passed 12 and 15 years ago. I just had to deal with this with my moms sister 5 months ago.

All of my experiences with Hospice have been wonderful. They do a great job with the patient as well as with the family. They provide a lot of information and comfort.

I am sorry to hear the news OSU..my prayers to God will be for you and your sister in these difficult times.

Sorry to hear about your Dad, OSU. My best to your family as you deal with losing him.

I loved Hospice when my Dad was there in Florida last fall. They took good care of him andme. Don't worry, he won't feel any pain.

Sorry to hear of this.....it's tough.

If you feel like seeing him, do it.

My grandpa died in October. he had been in a nursing home for about 2 1/2 years. I stopped in at least once a week, sometimes 3 times a week (only missed seeing him when I was on vacation). We always had a good relation ship, but it grew substantially in those 2 1/2 years.

Well, he had a heart attack. Was taken to Toledo Hospital. Basically in a coma. We all knew the time was close. He lived like that for almost 4 days. I got in the car one night to go see him. Then I thought "hey, when you saw him last, about 10 days ago, you had a great conversation with him. He laughed and laughed. The last thing you ever said to him was "grandpa, you better quit or they're going to come in and settle you down"........I heard him laughing as I walked down the hall.

So sitting in my car I thought "I don't want to see him in the condition he's in. I want my last memories of him alive to be good ones".

I didn't go.

I'd like to say I have no regrets about not seeing him one more time, but truthfully, sometimes I do regret my decision. Often times I don't, but still.......

Do what you think is best and don't look back. (although no matter what you decide, you will look back).

Best wishes.

So sorry to hear about your Dad. I haven't personally had any experience with Hospice Care, but have heard wonderful things about it.

If you want to see your Dad, I say GO! I often wish I had gone to see my Grandfather (the nice one, my Dad's Dad, not the a-hole one) while he was ill, before he passed. I didn't go because I was prepping for my finals at OSU and was about to graduate (the first in the family to get a 4 year degree). It was something I knew Papa wanted me to do, so I didn't go see him. I concentrated on finishing school.

Ten years later, I still wish I had taken a day to drive up here from Columbus. I could have made the trip in a day, easily. Too late now though.

Anyway, I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. *hug*

Well everybody has already filled you in on how wonderful Hospice is, so I won't add to that. My prayers go out to you, your father, and your family bro.

I'm sorry to hear this, OSU. To echo many others, Hospice is wonderful and your dad is in good hands.

I'm sorry to hear your journey with your Dad is coming to a close but it sounds like you've both found some peace. Hospice can be a wonderful source of support for all of you in many ways. Thoughts and prayers are with you, God Bless.