thank you - yes - it is awful to see him this way - he continues to "be alive" and keeps beating the hospitals palliative cares predictions.. I had a great visit with him last weekend for my parents 50th anniverasry - he was very aware and wanted to get out of the bed, etc... but then seems to slip back into a "sedative state" I was very upset for the hospital was not feeding him thru his tube and thougtht well they are just starving him to death so had them start feeding him - they now say they are afraid the feeding is causing more mucous in his trachea which I find difficult to understand .. but maybe I am just holding on to false hope...