Terri Schiavo 2 in NJ with my husband

6/25/06 | Simplemines

[bboop]

I had to threaten to sue the hospital when my mom was dying. They were going to 'release' her, put her out on the curb or something. I spoke with the chaplain, who helped me with contacts. I just said, 'If you do that, I will file a xxx (whatever it was).' Stand firm and keep up the good fight. Frank Pavone at Priests for Life is very knowledgeable -- give them a call. I bet he'd come out.

[apackof2]

Prayers for you and your husband in Jesus mighty name

Psalm 91:2

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

[reagan_fanatic]

I certainly hope this is just some sort of misunderstanding between you and your Doctor.

Regardless, may God's spirit hold your Husband in His arms and speed his recovery. He's been through too much already.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

PRAY and contact EVERY Catholic pro-life organization until someone helps you. Try to get a referral for a DIFFERENT doctor who is a real CATHOLIC and pro-life and who has the right experience in these kinds of cases. Try to contact Fr. Frank Pavone and explain the situation:

mail@priestsforlife.org

http://www.priestsforlife.org/

http://www.SeminariansForLife.org

http://priestsforlife.org/blog/

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

There has been a lot of medical research on this area. Some patients have revived after their brains have been stimulated by muscle relaxers (tranquilizers) or while hearing music being played (which stimulates a particular part of the brain). If your husband had any favorite music, movies, or sports events, play them to him so that he can hear them (DVD, VHS, or casette). Talking to him out loud in a clear voice while holding his hand is also a good idea. STIMULATION is the key.

More pro-life resources:

LifeSiteNews.com
LPO Box 1008
Niagara Falls, NY
14304-1008

Email: lsn@lifesite.net

Toll Free Phone: 1-866-787-9947

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Pro-life ping.

[redgolum]

You have our prayers. Keep us posted and call a lawyer. Also talk with your local priest and bishop (if possible).

[CremeSaver]

Neither, I live in Florida. Fight hard for your husband's right to live. You will never regret it. God bless you and your husband.

[CremeSaver]

I am not sure why my post #69 went fatima, but it was meant for you. :0)

[CremeSaver]

Oh brother, post #68 not #69.

[BykrBayb]

You've gotten some very good advice on this thread. The best advice I saw, was to contact Father Frank Pavone. I met him shortly after Terri was killed. He's a kind man, and intelligent. He can help guide you through the system. He might also be able to put pressure on the doctor and hospital, in a diplomatic way that won't cause any backlash. If I'm ever in a similar situation, he's the first person I'll call.

The pressure to sign a DNR is a big concern. More so than moving him from ICU. I'm not sure if he really needs to be in ICU, but he certainly needs a doctor that isn't in a rush to get his hands on a DNR.

Keep a copy of the info on this thread handy. You may start out following one piece of advice, and need to switch to something else. The Patients' Bill of Rights should be within reach at all times.

I'll add Diana Lynne at WND to the list of people you may wish to contact at some point. dlynne@worldnetdaily.com .

You're in my prayers. Keep us posted.

[tertiary01]

By all means do not let them give him Morphine. It slows breathing and dulls what reflexes and intentional movements he might have that can be trained to compensate.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Stories of recovery:

James Blunt's music wakes girl from coma
London, June 20 (ANI): Music sure can work miracles, as a
five year old British girl woke up from a coma after
listening to her favourite James Blunt song. ...
in.news.yahoo.com/060620/139/65825.html - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
in.news.yahoo.com/060620/139/65825.html

IOL: Sleeping pill 'woke up' man in coma
Sleeping pill 'woke up' man in coma ... British company
ReGen will begin clinical trials with Zolpidem on 30
coma patients in South Africa, in the hope that ...
www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1& click_id=125&art_id=vn20060610092005100C132438
www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1& click_id=125&art_id=vn20060610092005100C132438

[Simplemines]

An update...

I called most of the leads you guys submitted. It all comes back down to a legal defense center in NJ. Left a message, so far, no return call.

I've been through this route before. There's apparently no anti-euthanasia attys in NJ who are experienced at it.

My husband is being moved to a stepdown unit because "his heart rate is stable" (8 days after his heart STOPPED.) The patient care coordinator is unsympathetic. The nurse ration is now 4 to 1, which is fine with them (in ICU it's 2 to 1, which apparently isn't very good, either, since no one noticed my husband had pulled out his trach til his heart stopped.)

The coordinator isn't interested if this is a retaliatory action. She said the care is "appropriate."

FYI, we have lots of insurance, so payment's not the issue.

They refuse to give my husband any rehab care. They say it has to come through the dr.

I seem to remember people telling me that Catholic hospitals aren't much better. I can see why that rumor is floating around.

Any other ideas? I swear, I could just die I'm so, so, SO sick of this crap!

[Sun]

CONSULTATION, recommended by Priests for Life. Their website is www.ncbcenter.org, and click on "consultation." You can also call them at (215) 877-2660

Maybe they can steer you in the right direction.

[RedRidingHood]

I just went through similar situations with two different NJ hospitals. We would not sign a DNR. In both cases they found a way around that.

I can tell you that we were not pressured by any of the Dr's at the hospitals, but the insurance companies are the ones calling the shots. The only pressure we got was a phone call from a Critical Care liaison representing the insurance company. I was told by a nurse at the hospital that the insurance will pay up to one million dollars for ICU care and after that the hospital has to absorb the cost.(don't know if that is fact but that is what I was told)

The only way you are safe in these hospitals is if...you do not exceed the cost of care..or are considered "salvageable". That is the term they are using for people now.

We also said no morphine, not realizing there are other meds that can do the same thing. Make sure you demand to know what medications your husband is getting and the dosages. Watch out for, Propofol (diprivan) - Midazolam (versed) - Dilantin (phenytoin) and Fentanyl. If he is diabetic keep an eye on the insulin. Also keep an eye out for any medications they are omitting.

When they start disconnecting the monitors you will have to keep track of all the vitals. Write everything down. Watch the IV drips and make sure they are not turned off. My mother in laws was not turned on and they said they were giving her fluid through her peg tube. I had a hard time believing that, as nutrition said she was dehydrated.

Can you hire private duty nurses around the clock? That would be the way to go if you can't be there. Just make sure they are not from hospice.

My mother in law was also in a "twilight" after her surgery. She also had hospital aquired MRSA. Make sure he has no bedsores. We never even thought to check, being she was in ICU and getting almost 1:1 nursing. Were we ever wrong about that. They were in no hurry to show us either.

If your husband has a feeding tube,this has to be watched closely. They can let it back up causing aspiration or not feed him.

Hope this helps some. My mother in law passed away in May, my memories are all recent. I started writing everything down as soon as we got the call for the DNR.

[fatima]

CremeSaver,This just a bump and not about you.Fatima

[cycjec]

Sorry this is so late. Some additional starting points
for search for aid (sounds like you need a lawher) are
cureltd.blogspot.com and various blogs, e.g. blogsforterri.com
and prolifeblogs.com This isn't a hospice case but
Ron Panzers hospicepatients.org does have links to various
other .orgs

[CremeSaver]

Let's keep this going. Surely, there has to be someone who can help. Still praying.

BTTT

[fatima]

Well I gave my best phone number and if they didn't know -it is up to Priests for Life.I have a few contacts there .