To Nora the Wonderful Nurse
From Barbara the Grateful Caregiver
Here's the report on James Turk's whereabouts the night of Thursday, February 1, 2001
I gave him 2 Lorazapam at 10:00 p.m.
I gave him one dose .50 of Roxanol.
Millie stayed at his bedside from 11:30 until 6:00 this morning.
From 10 until about 3:45 he was calm and sleeping soundly (snoring).
At 4:00 I woke to the sound of a cough (or something) in his room. Millie said he was getting agitated. He seemed to be warm and uncomfortable. We did the plastic bag under him trick and slid him back up in the bed. We removed the plastic bedpad under him. He was scratching his butt so we assumed he was uncomfortable from the bunched up pad down there. Once he was back in position at 4:10 and less uncomfortable I gave him...
1 dose .75 on the eyedropper of the Roxanol (at 4:10).
I did the math wrong and could have given him another Lorazapam but I had marked it for 6:00. Sorry about that. I felt awful. But the Roxanol calmed him down. I took his temp and it was 100.7. He was doing a bit of moaning and could not take much water or formulate words to answer us even in the briefest of ways. The urine in the bag is getting darker.
At 6:00 this morning he gave out another cough and was again getting squirmy in the bed. I gave him
1 Lorazapam and .50 of the Roxanol (at 6:00 a.m.).
He is again calm. He can't seem to swallow and so it prevents him from wanting water (which he used to take in giant swigs from the straw). To get the pill and Roxanol down I used the eyedropper to put little bits of water in his mouth. He held it there until I guess it trickles down.
He does not seem to need any oxygen, and has no trouble breathing in. However he holds the breath and the exhale seems to have a moan or wheeze associated with it.
We ask him questions but he can't formulate any words. He does respond that he is having no pain. I sure hope so.
I will call you, Nora, when I get to work (around 8:00 or so). Thanks for all you and the others are doing for Jim and his family. His three older sisters (Vivian, Helen, Millie) and sister-in-law (Joyce) are taking good care of their "baby" brother thanks to Horizon Hospice. His death will be less tragic because they have participated in the journey with him... and he KNOWS they are here with him. The grief is being taken in smaller doses for them and for me. His neices and nephews are beginning to drop by to help and to say thanks and goodbye.
Thanks again
Barbara