Althlee Williams “had high blood pressure, mid-stage Alzheimer’s, and glaucoma.” After feeling disoriented and nauseous, she was taken to the hospital. After she was given medication to lower her blood pressure, she lost consciousness. She was revived 15 minutes later, and was never the same. During the last six months of her life, she was home for a total of 10 days. Over the course of her treatment, she had blood transfusions and was given a feeding tube and respirator. She contracted pneumonia and had an allergic reaction to one of her medications, causing a skin rash and her hair to fall out in clumps.
Her three children rotated staying with her throughout the day. Her two daughters held power of attorney, but her youngest son also helped in the decision making. He argued for doing whatever it took for keeping their mother alive, despite a medical bill that totaled nearly $1.2 million.
‘“My brother wouldn’t let her go, and wouldn’t let us quit,” Ransburg said. “Mother had told us she didn’t want all this, but we had to live with him after she was gone.”’
Only after a one-on-one discussion with a doctor did the son finally agree to let his mother go. He is still unsure if he made the right decision.
This story highlights the need for an end-of-life discussion with all family members, not just the ones with power of attorney. The son was able to influence the decision of his sisters. This prolonged the dying process for their mother, instead of extending life. The children watched their mother suffer for six months, because they were unsure of the right action to take.
End of Life Care 