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A Message of Hope
As we close our eyes for the evening, I have a favor to ask. While we are all dealing with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our own personal and/or collective ways, please know that some families are also contending with… Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 6 – When You Love Someone…
“When you love someone, you will do anything to keep them from dying,” said Shaun, the main character in the hit TV medical drama, “The Good Doctor,” when conversing with a fellow colleague following a sudden terminal diagnosis given to… Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 5 (Part 2 of 2) – Pre-Planning for Funeral/Burial and EOL Care
While a living will or other documents may be in place, the following forms will enable you to provide emergency and/or medical personnel with a more concise and clear understanding of the TiLOs wishes should he/she be unable to communicate. … Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 4 (Part 1 of 2) – Pre-Planning for Funeral/Burial and EOL Care
As you read this particular blog post, please keep this very important point in mind: ~I am not giving up, we just need to prepare for every possible outcome.~ Now, before reading on please take a deep breath and try… Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 3 – Conventional vs. Alternative Medicine
Based upon the nature of a terminal prognosis, generally speaking, the patient will more than likely die in six months or less regardless if they receive any form of treatment or not. This is a very important factor to consider… Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 2 – Living While Dying
‘Living while dying’ is a term or phrase that I have always used while caring for TiLOs (an acronym that I use to affectionately refer to “terminally-ill loved ones”) as a reminder to help them make the most of each… Continue reading
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Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 1 – Quality of Life vs. Quantity of Life
Quality of Life refers to focusing on the palliative care aspects of a TiLOs daily life with any treatments limited to minimizing symptoms and discomforts including among other things pain management to maximize comfort. Quantity of life is essentially focusing… Continue reading
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In the Beginning…
Before we get started, here are some key points that I learned with each loved one. Please note that this listing is not meant to be all-inclusive but, rather, to provide some basic guidelines upon which to start to form… Continue reading
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Take My Hand…
Terminally-ill? Terminal prognosis? Advanced stages? What are you talking about? I just came in for a simple scan and now you tell me that I only have so much time left to live? It would be best to start getting… Continue reading
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Intro: Lifetime Caregiver for Terminally-Ill Loved Ones
In June 1992, I received a phone call that would forever change my life. My younger brother, Jimmy, called me to share that he had just been diagnosed with AIDS, which was unexpectedly discovered during the early stage of an… Continue reading
Take My Hand 