DNR & calling in Hospice

This morning it was obvious that Ed's deterioration is progressing much faster than I ever thought would happen. He was in a stupor all morning, and when he finally became somewhat awake, he did not acknowledge any of us who were there. Throughout the day he could occasionally answer a question from a nurse but was mostly hallucinating, grabbing at the air, speaking nonsense, constantly fiddling with his hospital gown or the bed sheets. He did eat when fed and turned his head away and made a face when he'd had enough. Dr. Mitchell, the oncologist, says we are seeing the effects of the cancer, not the narcotic medication as I had convinced myself it was. He says there will be no improvement, only continued deterioration. It could be tonight, it could be days, it could be weeks, he can't predict but he anticipates that Ed's body will probably gradually shut down bit by bit. I agreed to the Do Not Resuscitate level under which Ed can still get antibiotics if needed and pain medication, in other words minimal sustaining efforts but maximum palliative care. We will meet with reps from hospice tomorrow to see what our options are and what it truly feasible. Originally when we talked about this eventuality, Ed wanted to be at home with hospice care. We will see if that's possible. He may not even be aware of his surroundings. For now, he remains at Grant Hospital.

I now have a muscle relaxant to go with my pain medication. So far I have remained clear-headed enough to make decisions. I know if he could say it, Ed would say Our Love to All.
Joni