Bowing Out

JP again here:
A few weeks ago, we were all hoping against hope that Anne would be given a chance by fate to pull through. She was encouraged by us, and had maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal, as you all know from reading these chronicles.

Around then, one day when I bid her good night and added “get better, love”, she answered: “I’m not going to get better. This is something we just have to deal with, and it’s no use kidding ourselves”. She also expressed her wish that, when the time came, she did not wish to be kept alive by artificial and invasive means, and we all supported her in this.

Even so, our take was to hope for a period of relative comfort and stability that might last for some time. The latest change, last week, from multiple daily painkiller (and other) pills to a hydromorphone pump, was expected to provide some effective relief from increasing pain and nausea. However, on Friday, Anne became nauseous to the point of vomiting everything taken in, even water – and this has continued the whole weekend. She feels the time has come.

She is starting sedation this evening, and is expected to slip into less and less consciousness in the days to come. The doctor expects she will be gone within two weeks.

While she, and all of us appreciate help and sustenance from loved ones, we feel that this is an important time for the family to be alone together.

All the gestures, food, messages of love and support that have flowed in this past year have helped Anne and the rest of us immeasurably. Thanks to you all.

We will keep you posted.