I am the POA and Health Care Surrogate to a long time client. She will be 96 in Aug and has zero family and only one friend who is 86 herself. First part of May she broke her hip and now has pneumonia, congestive hearth failure and other problems as well. She was totally dependent and lived alone before she broke her hip. Now she is totally bed dependent; can't do anything herself and I even not only have to cut her chicken up (that was her favorite) but I have to mostly put the food on her spoon and make sure it gets into her mouth. I argue everyday with her nurses and doctors just about everything. About her hydration; about her calories and weight loss; about her meals; about her trouble breathing and expelling lung stuff; about her care. They just don't seem to be as concerned as I am and this is considered to be a very good hospital. Every day I see her slip a little further away and I just know THAT phone call is coming. How can all this be happening so fast just because she broke her hip. I just hope I'm not the last to die in my family.

Sorry to vent but this is tough to deal with.

David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.