A request of good thoughts for Bats and the family

[NakedRicci]

Please keep Bats and the family in good thoughts if you would as we face the 5th really close death in the last 4 years. We've lost her father, the aunt that lived with her family as she was growing up, one of our best friends, one of our long-time fantasy baseball league owners (just last year in stretch run), and now it looks like her mother will not make it through March.

She is in the late stages of Alzheimer's. She has long since stopped recognizing anyone and has little quality of life left. She's been diagnosed with pneumonia. She has a living will that states no live-saving measures can be performed. Which means no antibiotics to treat the pneumonia. Adding to the breathing issue, it seems that over the last few weeks she has basically forgotten how to eat/swallow. Hospice has said she realistically has no more than 4 weeks or so left.

We broke the news to the kids last night. It was rough for them. They've been in too many funeral homes in the last few years. Three of the kids were just devestated, and Alek (our 2nd son) just put up a wall and just seemed angry and stubbornly silent, didn't need hugs or comforting. It was a hard night.

Anyway, any good thoughts would be greatly appreciated as the family deals with another loss.

[B-Fly]

Ugh. Really sorry your family is going through all this. Best wishes to you, Bats and the kids.

[Hammer]

I will be keeping your family in prayer NR. Hang in there.

[heyelander]

sorry to hear. you're all in my thoughts.

[Midnight Otter]

That is rough. My thoughts are with you and yours.

[SeaDogStat]

Sorry to hear, NR...best thoughts for you, Sheila and kids, my friend...

[virgonomic]

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[revo]

Wow, that's rough. You'll be in my thoughts, NR.

[Fresno Bob]

sorry buddy

[billbuckner]

sorry to hear. good luck with everything

[davidgrey]

Sorry to hear about that. Will keep the family in our thoughts.

[Bob Kohm]

You've got it, friend.

[bryanbutler]

my thoughts are with you.

[DMT]

Awfully sorry to hear that, NR.

[Judge Jude]

I'd just add that you will feel some relief at the end because of the circumstances, and there is nothing at all wrong with that. It must have been a difficult situation for a long time, and not good for anyone.

When my father died last fall (at 92!), colleagues were very nice, but seemed to think I would be devastated. Truth is, he lived on his own til the end, and had just finally started to have both mild dementia and physical issues (still didn't even need a cane, though). He wasn't afraid to die - he was afraid to live, in a difficult state.

If we can be so greatly relieved that he avoided all that, you sure as hell can be relieved at the passing of someone who was not nearly as fortunate. You'll feel much sadness, but also other emotions that might be a little confusing at first as well.