Oct 10, 2008

Nama


I'm writing to let you know that this past week has been one of the hardest weeks I've had to live through. Last Saturday (October 4th), my Nama passed away. For almost two years now she has been in and out of the hospital with a hand full of medical problems including COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, pneumonia, etc. About a month ago she went in for a routine doctors exam and found a urinary tract infection which was treated with antibiotics, however when she returned home she was having trouble breathing and her BP was low. Her doctor advised my Aunt Kelly to take her to the emergency room where she was admitted. There they found that she had contracted MRSA, a type of staph disease. After about 3 weeks she was sent to a rehab clinic to finish her recovery and get physical therapy. While there, on the 1st of October she fell and was bruised badly on her left side, she complained of severe pain and was x-rayed the following day. They found no breaks and wanted to continue her physical therapy, however, she could not get out of bed from the pain, her BP was low again so she was sent back to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital they did a second x-ray where they found a clear break in her hip and bleeding around it. However, this was the least of her problems. On the following Friday, the 3rd, they found another infection, this time in her colon, called C. Diff (Clostridium difficile). C. Diff is a naturally occurring bacteria in our colon which helps digestion. Another type of bacteria, of which I dont know the name, helps control C. Diff and is also present in the colon to help prevent intense diarrhea. However, when antibiotics are taken, the bacteria that controls C. Diff is killed by the antibiotics. This can cause the C. Diff to become overgrown and is very dangerous to the elderly. Because my Nama had taken anitbiotics not only for the urinary tract infection but the MRSA, her C. Diff controlling bacteria was low in her colon and the C. Diff became overgrown. Friday afternoon, my Aunt Kelly notified my mom and I that her condition was serious and to come immediatly. We left that afternoon. Upon arriving at the hospital, she was heavily sedated and could barely communicate. In the ICU we were required to dress in a gown and gloves. We were not allowed to touch her, at least not on the skin, and we weren't allowed to kiss her. Which I didn't know until after I'd done so. By the time we'd arrived her body was highly toxic from the C. Diff. and although less harmful to younger people is still highly contagious and dangerous. (Dont worry, I didn't get it from kissing her, I'm sure my immune system fought it off, the first symptoms are diarrhea and abdomin pain, neither of which I've experienced) Because of the level of the infection in her colon the doctor advised us that the next option was surgery, to remove all of her colon. She would be put on a colostomy bag, she would be in and out of the hospital from malnutrition and dehydration, she would have to be fed through a feeding tube and her already chronic diarrhea would be a lot worse. A situation we all knew she would not want to be put in. Not a way for someone to live. The other option was to continue the medication she was on to see if the C. Diff could be reduced and put under control. The kids (her kids) decided to give the medication a chance and see if things changed overnight. Saturday, before we arrived at the hospital we were notified that not only had things not improved but they were getting worse. We needed to make a decision, and quick. To do the surgery, of which there was not guarantee that she would make it off the operating table or to just make her as comfortable as possible. The kids decided not to put her body through the pain of an operation. They kept her on the medication until almost all her kids arrived at the hospital (save Uncle Bill, who was in San Fran at his new job). Once everyone was there, they gave her morphine and took her off the medication. We all said our goodbyes and told her how much we love her and will miss her. That afternoon she passed away. My mom and I came home late Sunday night. The following morning we repacked and spent the week with Aunt Kelly. Helping her with the funeral arrangements and necessary phone calls. It has felt like the weekend that wouldn't end. Thursday was the funeral, followed by a wake. The funeral was beautiful. My Aunt Kelly did a beautiful eulogy, I know Nama would have loved it, she had military honors, each of her kids were presented with a flag, and she even got a fly by (not planned). She is now buried at Oak Hills Cemetery under a grand oak tree. The perfect place for her to rest.

I just wanted to say that I hope you are all well and that you dont hold off on telling those you love that you love them. Everyday isn't too much. Dont take it for granted because one day they wont be there and you wont be able to hold their hand or kiss their cheek.

So with that said, I love you.

1 Comment:

  1. Anonymous said...
    I am so sorry for your loss!! {{hugs}}

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