It's been another difficult year. Hospitalisation for my mum followed by a move into permanent care where she remains, sort of settled. I've cleared her flat - my second house clearance and no easier than the first one despite the flat being much smaller than my family home which was sold in 2013 ...
.... and then ....
Mum in law (suspected but not officially diagnosed vascular dementia) was in respite in a care home after a series of falls and onset of sudden pain. The carers called an ambulance and the care home GP recommended she went to A&E without delay. While she was in A&E, the vascular surgeon who had treated her a few times was passing, examined her and organised for her to be rushed to his hospital (different from the one she was in) as he 'didn't like the look of things'.
So - rushed she was, admitted and assessed. My husband and his sister and two brothers were called to see her. She was on gallons of pain relief. The stents in her legs had failed and there was no circulation to her legs which were basically dead and she had a blood clot in her intestine. My husband came home and said they told him she didn't have long so he was glad he went to see her. She survived the night and with her pain relief managed was more comfortable the next day - but in the evening she slipped into unconsciousness. A pastor came and blessed her - my sister in law played her favourite song and she died very peacefully.
I'm sorry if anyone finds this upsetting - what stood out most to me about it all was that if there is such a thing as a good death, that was it. She had her children round her - and she had the religious input that meant so much to her and then free from pain, she slipped away.
I'll forever miss her slightly mad personality (even pre dementia!) and her talent for talking for hours and hours about nothing at all. She had a huge sense of fun and a grin like a Cheshire cat. A big personality that will be very sorely missed
.... and then ....
Mum in law (suspected but not officially diagnosed vascular dementia) was in respite in a care home after a series of falls and onset of sudden pain. The carers called an ambulance and the care home GP recommended she went to A&E without delay. While she was in A&E, the vascular surgeon who had treated her a few times was passing, examined her and organised for her to be rushed to his hospital (different from the one she was in) as he 'didn't like the look of things'.
So - rushed she was, admitted and assessed. My husband and his sister and two brothers were called to see her. She was on gallons of pain relief. The stents in her legs had failed and there was no circulation to her legs which were basically dead and she had a blood clot in her intestine. My husband came home and said they told him she didn't have long so he was glad he went to see her. She survived the night and with her pain relief managed was more comfortable the next day - but in the evening she slipped into unconsciousness. A pastor came and blessed her - my sister in law played her favourite song and she died very peacefully.
I'm sorry if anyone finds this upsetting - what stood out most to me about it all was that if there is such a thing as a good death, that was it. She had her children round her - and she had the religious input that meant so much to her and then free from pain, she slipped away.
I'll forever miss her slightly mad personality (even pre dementia!) and her talent for talking for hours and hours about nothing at all. She had a huge sense of fun and a grin like a Cheshire cat. A big personality that will be very sorely missed
