*Viewer Discretion Advised*<\/p>\n
During yesterday’s office visit we discussed all of Helen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s health issues. Near the end (no pun intended) our friend Bambi asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s with some reluctance that we bring this up, but is it time for hospice care?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d To which Helen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s doctor responded that traditionally that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something to be considered when the patient has six months to live. That, she said, does not apply to Helen.<\/p>\n
Peter and I shopped for computer speakers while our father drove our mother home, but when I got back to my parent\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s house I walked into my mother\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s room and closed the door. I wanted to be alone with her.<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I have a favor to ask. The kind of thing that only a mother might do for her son.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is this another one of your questions I have to brace myself for?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You could say that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think you know how much I hate to be wrong.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I think I do. I might have an idea about where that came from.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why I usually don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t offer opinions. So I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be held accountable. So here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the thing. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in huge bind. A while ago, sometime around the end of the summer, I told my friends that I was worried you wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t last the winter.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen : \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But I did, didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t I?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes you did. And you can see my problem. Now that Dr. Bieker has given you more than six months how do think I look? Or better yes, how do you think I feel? Not only am I wrong, dead wrong if you will, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had this outpouring of sympathy from my friends because I had them convinced your end was so near.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And now you want me to die so you can feel better?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Me: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I guess that pretty well sums it up.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Helen: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know I would if I could.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
*************<\/p>\n
Ten minutes after our talk, long after her laugher had subsided, Helen asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If I did, would you feel guilty?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
*Viewer Discretion Advised* During yesterday’s office visit we discussed all of Helen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s health issues. Near the end (no pun intended) our friend Bambi asked, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s with some reluctance that we bring this up, but is it time for hospice care?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d … Continue reading