Waiting

Keith is still in Las Vegas and should be home tonight. He was on his way home yesterday morning and then got a call from his brother Brad, who was still at the rehab hospital that it was time to 'gather the family' so he turned around and went back. His mom seemed to be feeling better after getting her lung drained of fluid but the hospice nurses said that once they stopped her heart medication drip that it wouldn't be long before she would start to drift away. The oldest brother Bruce was on his way back, too, after just having gone home a few days before to get a break and see his family.

His mom is in a rehab hospital and they don't like anyone to die there so usually they make you either choose a hospice or take the patient home to die, renting all of the medical equipment and hiring a nurse or doctor to stand by in the patient's home, and they make them go by ambulance to wherever they are going. Liability issues and all. Keith's mom is really not able to be transported anywhere so they've made an exception and allowed the hospice nurses to come there and take care of her during her last few hours or days. So, they are just sitting by her bed waiting. Keith doesn't want to be there at the end and will leave the room after she seems to be on her way.

So, it's been a rough week for everyone. And we are all hoping that it's over with soon.