[GH85Carrera]

I know the experience. My mom died first and dad took care of her to the end after 54 years of marriage.

His cardiologist talked him into a replacement heart valve at age 82. The surgeon said the operation was a success, but he is not doing well. He was gasping for air and was on pure oxygen. After a couple of weeks in the hospital they said he had to leave, and he put him in a nursing home as I was working on a big project at the office. I went to see him and instantly knew I had to get him out of there and the smell of stale urine was overwhelming. He was put in a concrete block room that was small, and he had a roommate. Zero privacy, and he hated the food there. I reached out to all my friends and asked for recommendations.

I had to be a bit a jerk to the place he was in to get them to agree to let me move him to a much better place. It had no bad smells and he loved the food there. The incision was not healing and it had an infection, likely from that first place. I had to find a wound care hospital, and a friend said there is one above all the rest. I had him transferred there and he had a private room with a nice view. He really liked the staff and they seem to care about him.

When he was near the end he said something to me that let me know he was ready. He said. "A man should not have to live like this" as he was gasping for breath with 100% oxygen going to his nostrils. All I could do was hold back the tears, and agree. He died a few days later.