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Almost there!

When my daughter left the hospital for the last time they sent her home with hospice information and urged her to contact them. We met with them a couple of days after she was home. Though she knew she was terminally ill at that point she just wasn't ready to sign yet. The hospice people set up a plan and gave her all the materials to kick it off at any point. She possibly even signed in advance (I don't remember). When she hit a crisis a week later we just had to call and ask for help and they immediately stepped in. Maybe you mother will be offered that?

Cold today, the high was 19. No days warmer than 30 in the long range forecast.

I hadn't weighed myself for a few days but I did this morning, and all is good. Auto pilot eating! I'm enjoying it.

This morning my Mom called at 9:45 am and said she had mixed up the appointment time with the social worker, and she was coming at 11 am. It takes an hour and 15 minutes to drive to their house, if all conditions are perfect. We blasted out of the house and arrived at 11:20. The discussion was about Hospice and what they had to offer. So much of what my parents need. My Mom is still hesitant, she said she's not sure she is ready to start this journey yet. It's so puzzling. I said you are on this journey whether you want to be or not. The question is do you want some company to help you on the journey. I also emphasized that if she didn't like the help that Hospice offers, she can quit. I am not at the end of my life yet, so maybe I don't understand how hard it is to accept that one is terminally ill. But if I had congestive heart failure and damaged lungs I would be so afraid of getting into a situation where I was gasping for breath and basically suffocating without any help to ease me through that passage. DD said in her talks with social workers who work with dying patients that is what most people are afraid of. I think my Mom is willing to risk this so long as she doesn't have to accept that she is going to die someday. It's an unusual response. I also spoke frankly with her and told her that she wasn't the only one involved here, and worrying about them was all consuming for me and DB so think about helping us too. Anyhow, she is going to meet with the actual intake people on Wednesday. My brother will attend. Maybe she will sign the paperwork. But I could still see her saying no. If she does, my response to all complaints in the future will be a reminder that Hospice could help with that.

No firm plans until Friday, when we have tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra, and Saturday, the annual Christmas concert we attend hosted by a trio famous in Minnesota. It's a variety show, where they pull in lots of luminaries of the Minnesota music scene, and is one of my favorite live performances we see each year.

DD returns to Boston (hopefully, there is a storm heading towards the east coast) tomorrow. It has been lovely to have her home.

Update: Orderly does bulk pricing. It's a little more a month than this company, but since that is a more widely recognized supplier she's going to go with that one : )

I bet the vent will look great and you need it!