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Originally Posted by Stringer

You know that I love you too...

It seems that a lot of times there is a brief recovery before the end result, I hope that this isn't the case though....I am depressed and sad.

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Same here Stringer. This is so hard. I was expecting it, but it doesn't make it any easier.

It does seem that there's usually a calm before the storm. I pray that the antibiotics work but 8lbs of fluid removed from her stomach and more building up, all full of infection, it doesn't sound hopeful.

Her family isn't giving up, I understand that, but maybe they should just let her go in peace. That's how I feel anyway.

I just hope that whatever happens she's not in pain, although I know that right now she is, I hope they can find a way to ease that.

I wish I could hug her. I hope that I get a chance to talk to her one last time.

I'll send all your love her way, that I promise you.

Hugs Stringer. We'll all get through this together, no matter what. Don't let this ruin your vacation, there's nothing you can do, so go and enjoy yourself, otherwise you know Jo would kick your butt. :)

Thanks Alty for passing on this info. I've been thinking about her constantly and looked at her number in my phone today and just wish I could talk to her again and hear her laugh. I miss her but I don't want her last days to be filled with suffering. :(

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Same here Stringer. This is so hard. I was expecting it, but it doesn't make it any easier.

It does seem that there's usually a calm before the storm. I pray that the antibiotics work but 8lbs of fluid removed from her stomach and more building up, all full of infection, it doesn't sound hopeful.

Her family isn't giving up, I understand that, but maybe they should just let her go in peace. That's how I feel anyway.

I just hope that whatever happens she's not in pain, although I know that right now she is, I hope they can find a way to ease that.

I wish I could hug her. I hope that I get a chance to talk to her one last time.

I'll send all your love her way, that I promise you.

Hugs Stringer. We'll all get through this together, no matter what. Don't let this ruin your vacation, there's nothing you can do, so go and enjoy yourself, otherwise you know Jo would kick your butt. :)

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Yeah... she WOULD try... funny how a circle of friends begins... :)

I wish I could hear her laugh again too NM, it's infectious. :)

She wouldn't only try Stringer, she'd do it, you know she would. :)

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

I wish I could hear her laugh again too NM, it's infectious. :)

She wouldn't only try Stringer, she'd do it, you know she would. :)

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Ha ha.. she might get the first blow in, but then I would show her copies of the sneaky pictures that I have... she would have to back down... :D;)

Got to run for a bit, back later.

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Originally Posted by Stringer

Ha ha..she might get the first blow in, but then I would show her copies of the sneaky pictures that I have...she would have to back down...:D;)

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What pictures? :eek:

I'm not in those pictures, am I?

Bad Stringer. I'm telling on you! ;)

Later dear, go relax, get your mind off this.

Hugs and kisses.

Alty

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Latest update on Jo from her mom.


1. do we want to attack the problem--- yes

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I don't understand why, it is only prolonging her pain and their grief.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Latest update on Jo from her mom.

It was rushed, but you'll get the gist.

2.pulminary results from the fluid drain --suggest massive and nasty infection (approx- 8lbs was taken out yesterday)

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Preliminary. This is usually fluid from the abdomen, and is called ascites when it builds up like this. This is one of they first signs of kidney failure. Once this happens dialysis is the only way to go.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

3.it will take 5 days to do a culture on the same drain

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Unfortunately, she may not last that long.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

4. suggested we proceed with 3 different anti biotics

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Let's pray this gives her some time.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

5. sub- ??? was put into her shoulder for needles (like IV)

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Porta-cath or Central Line?

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

7.when she comes around, pain management will take place ( she will get a drug, a cleaner from the morphine family, the dose is10% lower than reg morphine but more effective.

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Dilaudid?

I am so sorry to hear this is happening. Apparently we already had the calm before the storm (her birthday).

I love Jo dearly, but I can't bear her suffering any longer. Personally, and professionally, I get broken hearted when I hear that family wants to prolong the life of someone who is terminally ill. I always wonder if they take the patient's wishes into consideration. Would Jo want to live on machines? We know she has liver failure, now possibly kidney failure, why make her suffer? Even with a liver transplant at this point in time she will never regain a health as she once knew it.

Again, I have to see it from a clinical point of view so that it does not hurt me. I guess if I understand what is going on with her I can see it from a different viewpoint and it's not as painful for me.

Jo remains in my thoughts and prayers constantly.

Alty, please send my love to her if you get to talk to her... gosh, you are going to need a list;) Hugs everyone. Still sending beautiful thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for explaining it J, I was hoping you would.

The bad thing is, Jo only has one functioning kidney as is, the other one stopped working weeks ago.

I agree that they should just let her go and stop putting her through all of this. It's just prolonging the inevitable.

Starty, of course I'll send her your love, I'll send everyone's her way as I'm sure everyone wants to say hello and send her hugs and kisses.

I'm not sure if this call is going to happen, I can only hope. It's going to be hard but I so want to hear her voice one last time.

Hugs everyone. :)

Alty, I hope the call happens. Please share my love with her.

I never know if I'm hurting more than helping when I explain, but I guess I never take my nurse cap off.

Helping J, you are helping those of us who have no idea what the "medical lingo" means;) Thank you

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Originally Posted by J_9

Alty, I hope the call happens. Please share my love with her.

I never know if I'm hurting more than helping when I explain, but I guess I never take my nurse cap off.

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It helps because to me it's just a bunch of gooblygook, it's good to know what's really going on.

Of course I'll send your love. :)

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

It helps because to me it's just a bunch of gooblygook, it's good to know what's really going on.

Of course I'll send your love. :)

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I really don't mean to bring the mood down. And if you wish I stop explaining, I will. It's just in my family experience with my father's death, which many of you helped me through, it was easier for us to know what was happening to help us make the necessary decisions.

I agree J, when you say you don't understand why people prolong the inevitable. I don't understand it with my mind, I understand with my heart how hard it is to let go. Grandma passed in April and Grandpa DECIDED to go this month, he told us to let him and we did... hard but it was the right thing to do.

I wish Jo no pain and peace;)

I just saw the updates just now. Please let the family know that we send our love, thoughts and prayers to Jo and all the family.

Alty thank you for the update, just read it now. Did not realize this was all happening. Hope your able to talk with Starby...

Lots of love, and hope that she does not have to go through anymore pain.

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Originally Posted by J_9

I really don't mean to bring the mood down. And if you wish I stop explaining, I will. It's just in my family experience with my father's death, which many of you helped me through, it was easier for us to know what was happening to help us make the necessary decisions.

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You're not bringing the mood down at all J. I'm glad you're explaining all this to us, it does help to understand exactly what's going on, especially since the updates really don't tell us a lot, only that she's not well.

When my mom was dying they kept a lot from us. In fact we didn't find out she was terminal until her doctor went out of town and another doctor took over. She let it slip thinking that we already knew, we didn't.

It was a shock finding out that way. My mom had just had an MRI done and they found tumors in her brain. The doctor came in and said "instead of the year we originally gave you we're thinking it will be more like 6 months". I just gawked at her, so did my mom. I pulled her into the hall and asked her what she meant by 6 months. She was shocked that we didn't know.

My mom had bought a condo, it was almost done, she was planning to move in the following week.

When her doctor came back I lost it. I asked her how she could keep something like this from us. Her excuse was that my mom had just lost her husband and that she didn't want to add to the pain. She knew my mom well, my mom was a planner, liked to have all her ducks in a row. Finding out she was terminal was actually a relief to her because then she finally knew for sure what lay ahead and she could plan for it.

Okay, wow, another book by Alty. :o

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Originally Posted by startover22

I agree J, when you say you dont understand why people prolong the inevitable. I dont understand it with my mind, i understand with my heart how hard it is to let go. Grandma passed in April and Grandpa DECIDED to go this month, he told us to let him and we did...hard but it was the right thing to do.

I wish Jo no pain and peace;)

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Start I am so sorry.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

When my mom was dying they kept alot from us. In fact we didn't find out she was terminal until her doctor went out of town and another doctor took over. She let it slip thinking that we already knew, we didn't.

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My patients, albeit pregnancy related, know what is going on from the get-go. I never keep secrets, I ALWAYS tell the truth. I never give false hope.

Unfortunately, I know all about what happens when organs fail. I know all too well.

Honestly - I can't even type a response to any of the posts. Suddenly I'm standing there, next to that hospital bed, knowing the truth while the Doctors lie to me.

The Nurses - and I've said this before - told me the truth and what to do and how to do it.

My husband was lost to me days and days before anyone would admit it to me -

He told me if I loved him I would let him go - and maybe that's how Jo's family should be thinking.

Sorry - this thread isn't about me but it's been a VERY rough day and this thread brings it all back.

Again - sorry.

Jo is still in my prayers - and I wish her God speed.