Posted on 06/25/2006 3:33:39 PM PDT by Simplemines
Many of you replied when I originally posted my husband's horrible hospital odyssey of several months ago.
Things were going okay in the Catholic hospital, until my husband knocked out his trach in his sleep. The alarm didn't go off. My husband can breathe on his own, and the ventilator was giving him some small support.
His heart stopped. They resuscitated him, and he's been in a twilight since. The dr. he has has given up on him - this has only been a week. My husband IS starting to respond and focus, but the dr. doesn't care.
He's pressuring me to sign a DNR, and he suddenly wants to move my husband OUT of intensive care into a regular room! I was so shocked I didn't say a thing...why does my husband now need less care than before...unless of course the dr. wants him to die.
My husband is physically VERY stable. All his signs are perfect. From what I'm reading, it can take anywhere from one to three months for someone to come out of this kind of state.
This dr. doesn't even want to give him the chance.
Granted, my husband isn't as cute as Terri Schiavo, but you guys can see where this is headed. I want to give him a CHANCE to recover. I don't care if he's impaired. I'll take care of him if they just stop trying to push me to let him die.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I had to threaten to sue the hospital when my mom was dying. They were going to 'release' her, put her out on the curb or something. I spoke with the chaplain, who helped me with contacts. I just said, 'If you do that, I will file a xxx (whatever it was).' Stand firm and keep up the good fight. Frank Pavone at Priests for Life is very knowledgeable -- give them a call. I bet he'd come out.
Psalm 91:2
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
mail@priestsforlife.org
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More pro-life resources:
LifeSiteNews.com
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Pro-life ping.
You have our prayers. Keep us posted and call a lawyer. Also talk with your local priest and bishop (if possible).
Neither, I live in Florida. Fight hard for your husband's right to live. You will never regret it. God bless you and your husband.
I am not sure why my post #69 went fatima, but it was meant for you. :0)
Oh brother, post #68 not #69.
You've gotten some very good advice on this thread. The best advice I saw, was to contact Father Frank Pavone. I met him shortly after Terri was killed. He's a kind man, and intelligent. He can help guide you through the system. He might also be able to put pressure on the doctor and hospital, in a diplomatic way that won't cause any backlash. If I'm ever in a similar situation, he's the first person I'll call.
The pressure to sign a DNR is a big concern. More so than moving him from ICU. I'm not sure if he really needs to be in ICU, but he certainly needs a doctor that isn't in a rush to get his hands on a DNR.
Keep a copy of the info on this thread handy. You may start out following one piece of advice, and need to switch to something else. The Patients' Bill of Rights should be within reach at all times.
I'll add Diana Lynne at WND to the list of people you may wish to contact at some point. dlynne@worldnetdaily.com .
You're in my prayers. Keep us posted.
By all means do not let them give him Morphine. It slows breathing and dulls what reflexes and intentional movements he might have that can be trained to compensate.
James Blunt's music wakes girl from coma
London, June 20 (ANI): Music sure can work miracles, as a
five year old British girl woke up from a coma after
listening to her favourite James Blunt song. ...
in.news.yahoo.com/060620/139/65825.html - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
in.news.yahoo.com/060620/139/65825.html
IOL: Sleeping pill 'woke up' man in coma
Sleeping pill 'woke up' man in coma ... British company
ReGen will begin clinical trials with Zolpidem on 30
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www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1& click_id=125&art_id=vn20060610092005100C132438
www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1& click_id=125&art_id=vn20060610092005100C132438
An update...
I called most of the leads you guys submitted. It all comes back down to a legal defense center in NJ. Left a message, so far, no return call.
I've been through this route before. There's apparently no anti-euthanasia attys in NJ who are experienced at it.
My husband is being moved to a stepdown unit because "his heart rate is stable" (8 days after his heart STOPPED.) The patient care coordinator is unsympathetic. The nurse ration is now 4 to 1, which is fine with them (in ICU it's 2 to 1, which apparently isn't very good, either, since no one noticed my husband had pulled out his trach til his heart stopped.)
The coordinator isn't interested if this is a retaliatory action. She said the care is "appropriate."
FYI, we have lots of insurance, so payment's not the issue.
They refuse to give my husband any rehab care. They say it has to come through the dr.
I seem to remember people telling me that Catholic hospitals aren't much better. I can see why that rumor is floating around.
Any other ideas? I swear, I could just die I'm so, so, SO sick of this crap!
CONSULTATION, recommended by Priests for Life. Their website is www.ncbcenter.org, and click on "consultation." You can also call them at (215) 877-2660
Maybe they can steer you in the right direction.
CremeSaver,This just a bump and not about you.Fatima
Sorry this is so late. Some additional starting points
for search for aid (sounds like you need a lawher) are
cureltd.blogspot.com and various blogs, e.g. blogsforterri.com
and prolifeblogs.com This isn't a hospice case but
Ron Panzers hospicepatients.org does have links to various
other .orgs
BTTT
Well I gave my best phone number and if they didn't know -it is up to Priests for Life.I have a few contacts there .
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