Hospice

Hospice has officially signed on. And, here is what we can share with you.

Mom will remain in room 533. We could not get the bigger room on the Oncology floor due to infection risks. She will be receiving more pain medicine.

It looks like Jenn and I are moving in the direction of removing all medications except the pain medicine. This includes nutrition. We received a wealth of material today that we have to read. It is educating us about what we may expect and soothing some fears about some reservations that we had. We have been very hesitant to remove nutrition because it felt like we would be 'starving' mom. But, we are learning as we read and speak with Hospice that "food holds tremendous emotional, social and cultural significance in our lives". And, especially being southern girls we feared the impact of depriving a loved one of food (comfort). We are learning that supplying nutrition now may be counterproductive. Our bodies digest food using various organs and the process may become complicated when everything is not functionally properly anyway. Often times, at this stage, a person is not 'hungry' nor 'thirsty'. Also, we must follow the lead of mom. Whatever she needs, we provide. Whatever she does not want, we eliminate.

There's much more we have to encounter. And, we try to do this with grace. We have much to read and more to discuss. But, we are hanging in there. Surrendering. Being Present. With love.