Oh, how I wish there were hope.
My beloved husband of 45 years is suffering from Parkinson’s and autonomic nervous system failure. He suffers constantly, and wished he could die in his sleep to get the pain over with.
I tend to his meds, bring him fresh cool washcloths to put on his burning face, help him to deal with the constant nausea, and help him every hour when he is awake, as he slowly loses control of all his normal functioning.
He is alive, but he is in such pain, and there are no meds that will stop his suffering. I do not want him to die. I want him back.
Why are some deaths so horribly agonizing, with minds are still intact, but unable to “get out” of the unresponsive body. How do I comfort him, and tell him that there is still meaning in this endless pain and suffering.
I need to know, because it is right here, and right now.
“How do I comfort him, and tell him that there is still meaning in this endless pain and suffering.”
I’m not sure if there is meaning in them, but perhaps in spite of them one can still find meaning. Like him knowing how much you love him by your tender caring. My thoughts and prayers for both you and your husband. As you too are suffering in other ways.
After watching people I love suffer I've come to the conclusion that some people suffer their purgatory on earth.
I am so sorry you and your husband are dealing with this, jacquej. I wish you lived near to me so I could help out over there. I will be praying for you two tonight. God bless you and thank you for taking such good care of your husband. Even in his suffering, he is very fortunate to have you.
I understand very well what you are speaking of. My mother passed away a few years ago from MSA, which is kind of a slightly quicker version of Parkinson’s that affects more of the body at once. I had to watch her go through all the stages to the point where she was completely bed-ridden and unable to communicate. The drugs we had to give her to keep her alive were so potent that they started to affect her mind, but all we could do was just watch and comfort her as much as possible. In that sort of situation, you are rather torn when praying. You don’t want to lose your loved one, but you don’t want them to suffer the way they are. We knew there was no cure, and no real treatment, but we did everything we could to just make her as comfortable as possible and hold her hand through it all. All I can say is that the pain for that loved one is fleeting, no matter how strung out it may seem to us. They do wind up at peace in a better place, so you just need to make sure you are taking care of yourself as well.