The news that my father-in-law is soon to pass was not shocking although surprising. We had called the hospice nurse on Sunday over what we thought was a cold he had gotten. Instead, we were told that this was probably not congestion as in bacterial or viral but the body doing what it does at the end of life on this earth.
We have watched his mind slip further and further along in recent weeks and his lack of wakefulness too has been something that I have been observing and very aware of. So being told that he was declining was not new news and perhaps being told that he had gone into rapid decline should not have been surprising.
Yesterday we saw him rally. They say this is a common phenomenon. He got up in the morning and asked for coffee and breakfast all in a clearly spoken speech. He looked better than I have seen him in weeks as far as the clarity in his eyes and the interaction that we had with him. It didn't last long, it was a too short few moments but nevertheless we were thankful for them.
He did wake up again for lunch and wanted some lunch. He again ate it all down and said it was good.
The nurse did come by and his blood pressure was no worse than it was yesterday and not too awfully low so this was encouraging but the lungs are still rattling.
The hospice team has been absolutely great. It is always a hard thing to decide to place a loved one in hospice. And as with any business, it does depend on the staff and overall team. The team we have been working with has been absolutely wonderful. They have never pushed us to do anything that we were not 100% comfortable with.
They have been pulling for the old guy since day one and I think the regulars are rather sad to be facing this moment with us. They have known that they are dealing with a possible LBD patient and have applauded some of the measures we have taken, such as putting up the fence in order to keep him safely in the bed instead of having to always have to pick him up off of the floor. They know we are a bit odd as a family having to walk the paths in our home from time to time as we are preparing for a farmers market; or having to listen to our stories about chronic Lyme disease; or graciously accepting our advise for things like allergies; or making suggestions on homeopathic ways to treat a friend with MRSA.
They have joyed with us and been sad with us. In a way they have become our friends that we have needed to help us through the past few months. Our aid in particular has been a gem and my father-in-law has often responded to her better than to anyone else.
So as we all wait to see the outcome, knowing that it is in God's hands.