Is there any hope?

[AKA2D '91]

If one of your loved ones was seriously ill and the doctors have done all that can be done. Would you consider "pulling the plug", knowing that your loved one is in a state where they are solely relying on a machine to keep them alive?

[NYMinute]

I think I would need help with this decision.
My analytic self would say that the person is suffering and not really "living", my emotional self would say that there is always hope and that we should pray for a miracle

[exquizit]

I've been in the situation where a loved one was dying, had a stroke and became brain dead. . The decision was made to "pull the plug". That was so hard to watch someone you love take their last breath artifical or not......

That's a very deep and heart wrenching choice to have to make.

[prayerfull]

I went through this situation last year with my father, who eventually passed away. He had gone for major heart surgery and suffered a stroke to the brain during the procedure. He went into a coma and never really came out of it. At one point, he did start coming out though, but never completely. He was on life support systems and was never able to breathe on his own.

The doctors came to us repeatedly and told us that there was nothing more they could do for him. The decision was really up to my mother to make. He was definately suffering and my sister and I knew that this was it for him. However, my mother was not going to pull the plug on her husband of 44 years. It was really hard on my sister and I because he had told us so many times that if he was to ever be in that situation, he would not want to be kept on life support. At one point, one of his legs had to be amputated also. I did not agree with my mother's decision to proceed with the amputation, but because she is my mother, I had to close my mouth and support her.

All I could do was to pray about the situation. I hated to see my father suffer like that, knowing that he had always said he did not want that. However, we had to allow my mother to make the decisions. There were so many people around us that tried to convince my sister and I that we should go over our mother's head in the situation (including her pastor!).

You know, God will have is way though. Remember, "in the midst of the storm", he says "I'm God and I will have my way".

We had to leave this situation with God. After 2 1/2 months in intensive care, my father went on to be with God on September 29, 2000. My father's earthly body has now been exchanged with a heavenly body that is no longer susceptible to sickness and suffering.

God has a pre-destined plan for our lives. When he's ready for us to go, he's going to take us. All we need to do is be prepared because it may happen at any time.

[lastpoetnsite]

much respect...

as far as my immediate family goes we all have living wills that state that if in such a case that we could only live on life support that we do not want that to happen.

we do not believe in keeping the person here in "the world" so to speak if their soul is moving on.

death is difficult. but i would rather be able to live on my own...freely and willingly...than live under the expensive care of doctors and i cannot even think, move, feel, speak, etc. without their help.

just my humble opinion

peace

[The Original Ape]

Yeah, I would-if(and only if) they told me to.

[SweetestDiva]

Originally posted by prayerfull:
I went through this situation last year with my father, who eventually passed away. He had gone for major heart surgery and suffered a stroke to the brain during the procedure. He went into a coma and never really came out of it. At one point, he did start coming out though, but never completely. He was on life support systems and was never able to breathe on his own.

The doctors came to us repeatedly and told us that there was nothing more they could do for him. The decision was really up to my mother to make. He was definately suffering and my sister and I knew that this was it for him. However, my mother was not going to pull the plug on her husband of 44 years. It was really hard on my sister and I because he had told us so many times that if he was to ever be in that situation, he would not want to be kept on life support. At one point, one of his legs had to be amputated also. I did not agree with my mother's decision to proceed with the amputation, but because she is my mother, I had to close my mouth and support her.

All I could do was to pray about the situation. I hated to see my father suffer like that, knowing that he had always said he did not want that. However, we had to allow my mother to make the decisions. There were so many people around us that tried to convince my sister and I that we should go over our mother's head in the situation (including her pastor!).

You know, God will have is way though. Remember, "in the midst of the storm", he says "I'm God and I will have my way".

We had to leave this situation with God. After 2 1/2 months in intensive care, my father went on to be with God on September 29, 2000. My father's earthly body has now been exchanged with a heavenly body that is no longer susceptible to sickness and suffering.

God has a pre-destined plan for our lives. When he's ready for us to go, he's going to take us. All we need to do is be prepared because it may happen at any time.

Prayerfull... this sounds incredibly similar to what we went through with my father. It's been 3 years and it still hurts... so I can honestly say I know what you're going through. E-mail me anytime you want to talk.