[Laneco]

My father is now living at our house - straight from the hospital to here. 15 days in the hospital, 12 in ICU, 9 of that on a ventilator. No advance directive. He begged for a DNR if removing the ventilator tube failed (meaning that he failed to regain breathing on his own). With a tube in his throat he wrote me notes and begged the family members to understand his wishes. It was fortunate that he was conscious and able to make this decision. Even more fortunate that the removal was successful.

While we were in the hospital we met an elderly gentleman. I think his name was Bob. Bob had the worst day in the history of the known universe. His wife of 55 years is also a COPD patient and in the end stages of her disease. She died early in the morning. Bob called non-emergency (as required when someone dies at home) but her DNR could not be located. Ambulance arrived, lights and sires. Bob begged them to NOT revive her, but legally they must try as the DNR could not be located. They got to to the hospital and unfortunately, did revive her. No higher brain function, but she was "alive" on the ventilator. The DNR was located later that day. Her tube got pulled and Bob watched his wife die for the second time a few hours later.

If you ever think you've had a bad day, please think about his day... Advance directives are for everyone and (as stated above) a DNR needs to be damn near tatooed to your chest.

angela