Who should decide?

toomuchbaloney · Dec 18, 2021

14 hours ago, Hannahbanana said:

I had to read this twice to get your point-- I'm getting like that lately, LOL-- but I agree with you. I think that since we nurses have seen what's worse than death, when people say "I want everything done" but they have no freaking clue what "everything" really means, we may have a different perspective than people who have likely never seen anybody that sick, much less cared for them for weeks or months or years. They've never seen anybody die, or even a dead body.

In the not that distant past people died at home; the family got to say goodbye and process the deaths as part of the lives that preceded them. In the 17th and 18th century, where families lived in homes without central heating or plumbing, there was a nice warm room behind the central fireplace. This was the borning room, where women labored and gave birth, and also where people near the end of life went. When Uncle Buddy got kicked in the head by the horse, grandma had her stroke, the blue baby finally outgrew his defective heart... people came to sit for awhile, talk, and consider the passing of time. Then there was mourning, the funeral, the trip to the churchyard, and the trip home. Everybody knew that's how it would be for them.

Nowadays, you're right; everybody thinks death is the worst thing. After all, doesn't modern medicine make staving off death the be-all, end-all? Nursing, however, knows better.

The first old house that we bought in rural Michigan had a wider than normal doorway that we were told was made to accommodate coffins. Now we strive to keep the images of death out of our homes and we try to pretend that loss and grief are managed in 3 work days.

Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN · Dec 18, 2021

2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

The first old house that we bought in rural Michigan had a wider than normal doorway that we were told was made to accommodate coffins.

Our old house, like many around New England, has a tightish corner in the steep stairs. There’s a window at the corner to allow a coffin to be brought in empty and taken out full, called (yep) the coffin window. I agree, attempts to hide or evade death are ultimately in vain. Denial has to end at some point; being prepared and accepting the inevitable makes that easier when it arrives.

JKL33 · Dec 18, 2021

2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

The first old house that we bought in rural Michigan had a wider than normal doorway that we were told was made to accommodate coffins.

48 minutes ago, Hannahbanana said:

Our old house, like many around New England, has a tightish corner in the steep stairs. There’s a window at the corner to allow a coffin to be brought in empty and taken out full, called (yep) the coffin window.

Wow! Interesting!

Googlenurse, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2022

So she was discharged home,I assume with PDN nurses. Maybe she has 16 hours of skilled nursing a day.

Is she brain dead or does she have global delays?

Also,I just read that mom had another baby after Tinsley. Why?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 1, 2022

Update:

Texas Scorecard April 13, 2022

Tinslee Lewis Home Nearly 900 Days After Being Given 10 Days to Live

Quote

A Brief History

When a hospital decides to use Texas’ “10-day rule,” basic life-sustaining care is halted following a 10-day countdown. Tinslee was 9 months old when Cook Children’s Hospital invoked the 10-day rule, with vague “quality of life” arguments for a child with a congenital heart problem. A legal race ensued to save Tinslee’s life.

..Hospitals are not required to hear families’ protests, and the only options available are to find another facility to accept an emergency transfer or to begin legal proceedings....

Today

Late last week, after years of legal battles and constant care, Tinslee was finally able to return home with her family.

Trinity Lewis, Tinslee’s mom, told Texas Right to Life, “We have been cherishing and enjoying Tinslee being home, and we appreciate everyone who stepped up to help in any way as well.”

Two regular legislative sessions have occurred since Tinslee’s case brought to light the detrimental effects of Texas’ 10-day rule. Neither the 86th nor the 87th legislative sessions saw bills passed to revoke the 10-day rule, despite legislators putting forward multiple bills.

The Dallas Morning News Apr 12, 2022

Tinslee Lewis discharged from Fort Worth hospital amid legal battle to keep her alive

Quote

Tinslee Lewis, a Fort Worth toddler who has been on a respirator most of her life, was sent home last week following a court battle to keep her alive at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Tinslee’s heart defect is called Ebstein’s anomaly, in which a right heart valve sits lower than normal, making it difficult for her heart to pump properly and causing blood to flow backward through the heart. Her lungs were also underdeveloped, which is common in premature births, resulting in more stress on her lungs and heart. She was kept alive through open-heart surgery and a ventilator....

WKSAT

Texas girl at center of life support battle leaves hospital, will be cared for at home

Quote

Tinslee Lewis’ health ‘steadily improved’ at Fort Worth hospital, group says...

Texas Right to Life spokeswoman Kimberlyn Schwartz said that within the last year or so “the hospital and the family have worked well together.”

Schwartz said that doctors eventually switched Tinslee from being ventilated through her mouth to having a tracheotomy. “It helped improve her health to the point that she can go home,” Schwartz said.

She said that Tinslee, who is currently on a portable ventilator, has 24-hour nursing care at home.

subee, MSN, CRNA · May 1, 2022

44 minutes ago, NRSKarenRN said:

Update:

Texas Scorecard April 13, 2022

Tinslee Lewis Home Nearly 900 Days After Being Given 10 Days to Live

The Dallas Morning News Apr 12, 2022

Tinslee Lewis discharged from Fort Worth hospital amid legal battle to keep her alive

WKSAT

Texas girl at center of life support battle leaves hospital, will be cared for at home

I'm still trying to figure out how a trach "helps one's health" in this case. Score one for religious fanatics.