It takes 24/7/365 specialized staff to care for a Ventilator patient. Most facilities meaning nursing homes can not afford the cost. When my wife in March was told C.O.P.D. and bacterial pneumonia related to her quadriplegia would make her ventilator dependent the rest of her life we learned this. It wasn't a matter of what the doctors wanted. They tried many times using the scope to suction her lungs. They told us the truth her body mechanics would fail off the respirator. Two choices were given and No they did not rush a decision. Instead they kept trying to save her. Two choices were being sent to a nearest Ventilator Care long term facility 500 miles away and maybe she would survive the transport or doing a Trach and sending her home or if she wished in patient hospice which she told me going back home was her choice.
The doctor explained to me why few long term ventilator patient facilities exist and it's not the reason most persons would assume. He said in his experience he didn't know of a patient who so desired to live in that manner. He said most don't wish to be done like that and he didn't himself.
Vents take away the persons voice. They can't talk. They can't eat or drink. It means having a suction tube ran through you up to 20 times a day being suction which that in itself chokes you. It means you never go home and you never leave the facility.
I am 100% absolutely pro-life. I am just explaining some of this so others who may face this down the road can understand.
I feel there is a lot more to the this story that we don't know...
seriously, a non cancerous tumor near his pancreas put him on a ventilator?....what kind of ailment is that?...
and I wonder what other family members are thinking?...sounds like there is discord in the family about this...
two words:
christopher reeve
He lived for years on a vent and eventually regained the ability to speak. He became a powerful advocate for the disabled. His life had purpose, although he was on a vent and paralyzed from the neck down.