DO NOT RESUCIATATE DNR

I was recently asked my opinion of DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders. This is not an easy thing for anyone to deal with. If you say you want one than you must choose someone who will carry this out. If a person makes the choice it means they know what they want from life. Most of the people I talk to in my home wanted a DNR order issued. If I needed to call 911 when the First Responders came I would tell them whether or not there was a DNR orderfor that person.
A few years ago I received a phone call from a dear friend, Pat. She just wanted me to know she was in the Albany Medical Hospital and due to have a very serious operation. She said this in the same tone you would say “I am going to the store”!!Now, dear reader, I am sure you’re wondering how can a dear friend be in this situation and I not know of it. Well, Pat, my dear friend and I would always call one another if there was a serious problem. Sometimes it would be a few weeks when we didn’t hear from each other but no matter, when we needed to talk we could find each other. It was the type of friendship you could say anything to each other and no offense was ever taken. There are not many folks who can do this so I have always cherished this friendship.
She thought I should know she had just signed a Health Care Proxy and named me as the executor!!! I left for the Albany Medical within half an hour. We talked about her operation, which was life threatening, and what I needed to know. I accepted the job of executor and agreed to do as she wished. I thought this would be easy. WOW!! Was I in for a surprise? You better believe it, gentle reader, and it was going to be a big surprise.
She went into surgery and came out to the Intensive Care Unit. For the first few hours everything was ok and then things started to change. It got to the critical point where she didn’t know me, or her family. The doctor thought she might have had a stroke and as to the recovery he wasn’t sure what would happen. Over the next two days it was getting bad. I tried talking to her doctor but didn’t get any good news. She might be a vegetable if things didn’t improve. She had made it clear she never wanted to live if she was bed-ridden or not in her right mind. Now came the decision time. I was frantic!! This was my best friend and how could I say remove everything???? So I came home and called Dr. Pitkin. Where would I be without this Dr.?? I explained everything and asked what he thought. He said to wait another 24 hours and then call him if she had not improved. So I waited and by the next day she opened her eyes and said “Hi Ruth, where is my sister”? I was so happy I cried. Needless to say from then on she recovered. Now I know what being an executor of a Health Care Proxy is. It is the hardest job I know.
This is such an important issue for everyone because you never know when anything can go wrong and you are on life support. No one wants to think it will happen but it does. Then you have to make sure what you want and who makes the decision. If you do not have a Health Care Proxy already, dear reader, please consider having one done, the sooner, the better.
Until the next time, stop and take a break, call a friend or cheer someone up ………
Love Red