Imminence

I was really hoping to blog about something inconsequential and fun this week, but alas, it was not to be.

A week ago tomorrow, an occupational therapist visited Mum in her room, hoping to do some in-bed exercises designed to increase her mobility. Mum waved her off, and her decline has pretty much continued from there. Less eating, less drinking, les talking, and more sleeping.

Thursday we met with the palliative consultant and transitions specialist, who patiently explained that Mum shouldn't really stay at the Leduc hospital as it isn't set up for long term care. They do have two palliative suites, whIch are larger rooms that allow more family to be on hand and even sleep over if a person is close to passing, but they are not a hospice.

Tara and I visited St. Joseph's Auxiliary Hospital in Edmonton today, which does have 14 hospice beds, and being on the south side, would facilitate visitors from Leduc.

But Mum is less and less responsive each day, it seems. So much so, in fact, that today a nurse suggested that Tara and I might want to stay close that evening...just in case.

Audrey and the girls came out later that evening, just in case. Later on, the night nurse came and told us they would be moving us to a larger room so that there would be more room for family.

And that's how things are sitting currently. No one is saying what will happen or when it might transpire, but the likelihood - the elusive "imminence" we first started hearing about after returning to Leduc - seems to have increased significantly.

I won't say we're ready, because how are you ever ready for something like this, but we are about as prepared as we can be, and unified in love and support for Mum and each other. The staff have increased the frequency of her pain meds and have been very responsive to her other needs. Most of the time she is pretty comfortable and knows we are there, and that she is cared for and loved.

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes, thoughts and prayers - they are felt and appreciated.