"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> elaine wrote:
>>
>> "
>> >> to go back, but I returned to the hospital just before midnight. An
>> >> hour
>> >> and a half later she slipped away quietly on my watch.
>>
>> She didn't linger which is a comfort. Still..........it's hard.
>
>
> She was 82. She had had one knee replaced. She had diabetes, a pacemaker,
> was on digitalis, diuretics, one kidney had pretty well failed,
> calcification of the bladder, a problem with a valve in her heart. She was
> not taking her diuretics because they made her run to the washroom every
> 15
> minutes. She had not had a good nights sleep in years because she had to
> get up and go to the can. She needed a walker to get around. She had
> diabetes related circulatory problems and was bound to have to have a foot
> or leg amputated in the not to distant future. She did not want that.
>
> My brothers have labelled me Dr.Death. When my father died 9 years ago the
> who family had taken their turn sitting by his side. After two full days
> of that, most had gone home for a rest leaving me and my mother alone. She
> went to the washroom and left me alone with him. He died before she got
> back. When I went in late Thursday might my brother joked to my wife not
> to leave me alone with her. She left when the nurse came in, leaving me
> as
> the only family member. Once again, leave me alone with a sick parent and
> they die on me. Several people have since asked me not to visit them in
> the hospital.

For what it's worth everyone should have a Dr. Death. When it's my time, I
would like to go fast - or faster. Unfortunately, I live each and every day
watching my loved one linger and suffer.

elaine