Candy-striped

[poliphilo]

Ailz handed me a candy-striped pullover to put on this morning because she wants me to "be bright". Her father is coming home today (in his hospital bed)  and we'll be going over to the bungalow shortly to move furniture and lend moral support. And, no, it's not particularly good news. He's as sick as he ever was- sicker than when he went in- and all he'll be receiving is palliative care (lovely, soothing euphemism). All this seemed horribly bleak at 2 o'clock in the morning, but I've had my breakfast and it's a new day and I'm ready for what it brings. 

Comments

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Good luck. It sounds as if you'll need all the candy stripes you can get.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I'm also wearing my coping hat.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear it. Have they no idea what's wrong with him?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

You name it- heart disease, pneumonia, possibly cancer. They all add up to Old Age.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Much love to you and Ailz.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I dislike the phrase 'palliative care'. It freaks me out.

Good luck for the day!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

"Terminal care" is the more honest phrase.

Thanks.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

That's accurate, Tony.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

With grim gallows humour I would say, it seems as though you won't have to endure it for long. It's hard to know whether he is really ill with something they can't / won't diagnose, or whether he's just given up. Can that kill you? Who knows.

I hope you can discharge your candy-striped duties with fortitude. Best wishes.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Gallows humour is a great resource. I'm drawing deep from that well.

We were at the house this morning and a crow came and perched on the fence and looked at us.

I think the final diagnosis has to be "old age". He's got a lot of things wrong with him- none of them fatal by themselves, but they add up. Also he's tired

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

There is no official diagnosis? It sounds like they've fairly well given up on him.
I hope you and Ailz (and her mum) get through this new stage serenely...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He keeps getting infections. They suspect cancer, but can't find it. Basically he doesn't want to be alive any more- and has said so.

Thanks. I think we'll manage. I've got my business head on.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

Good luck. I hope the next weeks and months are as peaceful and stress-free for all of you as they can be.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We got a call this morning warning us he could die in the ambulance on his way home. I don't think this is going to take very long.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so sorry. What a dreadful call to receive.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, but we weren't surprised by it. We know he's "coming home to die". No-one has left us any illusions about that. Besides, we knew without being told.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

My sister said she was very happy with her palliative care in the last month of her life. I'll be thinking of you all -- it's been my experience that one always feels one step behind events as the life of a family member winds down.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I was in the palliative care business myself once- a long time ago. I worked in a hospice for a year before I started training for the church.

[(Anonymous)]

As your friends say, good luck for the day; I hope that things are as stress free and peaceful as they can be. Love to you both and my best wishes for Ailz's Mum and Dad.
Love Jenny x

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. thus far everything is going smoothly. He's been brought home and is sleeping peacefully in a bed in the front room. He's not expected to live more than a few days.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

We get old, bodies wear out, just like old machines. I watched my Mom die last year, not suffering, just fading away. Perhaps that is the best way for the patient, but it wears on the family. I keep you and Ailz in my thoughts.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

He's worn out. It's been clear for a few days now that he's not going to make a recovery this time.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it's not any one thing, it's simply everything. My best to you and Ailz.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

As my father in law himself used to say (regularly) when he found himself struggling- "it's old age, dry rot- and poverty".

[clindau.livejournal.com]

Oh dear; keeping you in my thoughts.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[suemars.livejournal.com]

as you know, we've just been thru this. thinking of the both of you.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you.