It looks like mom is on the way out now...

Dad died Sept 11 this year. I just got a message from the weekend sitter telling me that mom isn't eating, won't chew or swallow and she lets liquids just run back out of her mouth, isn't getting out of bed.
We will be going in a couple of days to see her. I think I've mentioned that my dad and her gave my wife POA. She just called and paid for funeral expenses because if mom dies then Cindy, my wife can no longer pay for anything and my sister is well.... she is difficult and getting dementia herself I think. She is self inflicted poor health and has no trust, and is not trustworthy...
I am NOT looking forward to splitting the estate (what is left of it) with her. Going to have to hire an attorney to make her bring moms rings and other stuff back. Mom is in the last stages of Alzheimer's.
Here is to hoping that in 2015 things will "get back to norbal"!!
 
If you are young you wont remember the "everything is back to norbal" reference. It was from MAD magazine in '67 or '68. It was a IIRC, a two page cartoon of a diary of an LSD trip. The last panel was, "everything is back to norbal now". I have it somewhere upstairs maybe I'll get it out one day and take pictures.
 
Anyway. If you pray, I covet your prayer in this. If not, please send good MOJO, vibes, good thoughts, or whatever you have.
 
Thanks!
Julien

Sorry to hear this.
 
Hope you come through it with a minimum of difficulty given the situation.

You are in my thoughts Julien.

Well, she decided to have some Boost just now so maybe it wil be a little longer, I hope so.
 
Thanks and I will let you know when I know,
Julien

OlPal... that reminds me of my favorite verse in the Bible, "...and it came to pass!"
 
J

Thanks John, she is tired and ready. I'm OK with her going, really she has been pretty much gone for a year. I hope she doesn't linger and suffer because some people don't want to let things take their course. I don't mean to sound callous but she is blind, pretty much deaf, does not know who anyone is, can't get out of bed... you know? She would not want this. She was a very tidy woman with a lot of pride in her home and her handiwork, she made all the rugs, all the curtains, she cooked and cleaned and would be mortified if she knew she was living the way she is, but that is life, we all get old but there comes a point where it is counter productive to try to make someone keep living.
I kept my last dogs alive about a year longer than they should have lived by feeding them fried chicken, pizza, liver, whatever... until they couldn't get up and walk, they just stared. The last one, I finally took to the vet and she just laid down on the table and waited. I learned a lot through those old dogs.
I know people are not dogs but life is life. I do not favor euthanasia for people in any form but at some point I wonder if we don't prolong someone's suffering out of self interest.
I just don't know. They say death is natural but it never seems natural to me.
 
BTW, I just got a report that she started to eat or drink again. I think it is the Alzheimer's. Eating comes and goes, she had a Boost. I still think she is on the way out. I think she wants to go and be with dad.
 
Thanks everyone !
Julien

I pray that the Lord's peace be with you during this time jbow.

Sorry to hear this.  As you know, I just recently lost someone dear to me.  My heart goes out to you and you and your family are in my thoughts.

Go and see her. Everyone gets old. Hope she lives a few years longer.
 

So sorry to hear Julien.  Please keep strong and make sure that there is at least one safe place to go to in the coming weeks. 
 
I lost my dad when I was 16 in 1970 and my mom this year when she was one week away from turning 99. 
 
Peace,  Clint

Sorry that you and your family have to endure this. I hope that your Mom is as comfortable as she can be in her condition. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
 
Rocky

We are going tomorrow. I'll try to update from there. I know she is ready to go, she really is past ready. She is a shell of her self. I count death after a long life as a blessing. Sometimes I think we should mourn when a child is born and rejoice when a life is lived and the time in this world comes to an end. What kind of life is it when you no longer know anyone, can't feed yourself, can't get out of bed, incontinent, and blind? Maybe I am wrong but I will be glad to see the end of this sort of life for her but I believe I know where she is going and am happy for it.
 
Maybe she will have a lucid moment and know me... who knows? She is tough though, she has lived this long, she may fool them and keep on going but I doubt it. Hospice has discontinued all her meds except meds to make her comfortable.
 
Thanks everyone and Roy, I will be praying for you.
 
J

Mom passed at 6:30 PM this evening. We are OK. I had my hand on her head and my sister had one hand, my wife holding the other.
Thank you all.


Julien

Very sorry to hear about it Julien.  It's the one thing left that I'll have to deal with.  My Mom's younger sister (my aunt) just passed away two weeks ago at 82 so my Mom is the only semi-close relative I have left and will definitely be the hardest for me to handle when that time comes.