Well, the roller coaster ride went from a small roller coaster to the giant roller coaster. Bob called yesterday around 11:30 letting me know dad was not doing well at all. I let Frances know but we decided not to over react since we’ve been down this road several times in the last few weeks since he went to Brian Center. About the time I hung up talking with him, Brian Center called to tell me dad was in the “active stages of dying” and wanted to know if they should call Hospice. I e-mailed Frances to call me, gave her the news, and called Bob I was on the way to pick him up to head to Brian Center. When we arrived Frances and Al were already there. Dad was sitting up in bed being fed Jello by Al. He also ate a whole piece of lemon meringue pie. By this time Hospice had shown up for the evaluation. They told us that although he had rallied he was still a candidate to go to Hospice but that once he did his Medicare Part B would stop that was paying for his skilled care at the center.
A little while later he went back to his deep, unresponsive sleep he was in earlier when the nursing staff had determined he was dying. In the meantime Marcy had gone to Creekside to get mom and bring her to the center. Transport to hospice was arranged for 3pm. Bob and I came home to let out Colin and do a few things before we took off for hospice. He arrived the same time we did and Frances, Al, and mom a few minutes later.
He did not wake up when they moved him to the gurney or during transport. He was pretty much out of it the rest of the day and into last night. Mom wanted to stay with him so Al stayed too to be with mom. We got home around 11, played with Colin, took him out for last time, and went to bed.
Back up at 6 this morning we took care of things then headed to hospice. Having not had any news we figured he was not worse or not better. Instead, we arrived to find he was awake and asking for breakfast. He was awake and talking, not always making sense, all morning until he fell asleep about 11. When they brought his lunch tray in we woke up and ate all his lunch.
Bob and I left to come home. Having braced myself for today being the end, so far, he has rallied again. I know this is common in kidney failure and CHF patients to go down and rally even without medical treatment.
Now, we wait to see what happens next. Frances is at hospice with mom. Al went home to get some sleep. We will hang out here this afternoon unless get a call he has gone downhill.