I held his head as he tried to cough up the heavy flim. His nurse and aide were gone on a much-needed break; I rushed out to find more ice water, soaked a new swab, and gently cleaned the thick mucus from his mouth. After we did this together several times, he relaxed, I put his head back gently on his pillow, and he breathed calmly again. I rubbed vitamin E oil gently into his chapping lips, and removed the cannula to coat his nasal passages with a thin layer of the saline gel I use when flying at altitude with oxygen. He has had no food and almost no liquids since Tuesday morning, but still responds with a quiet no when we ask him if he hurts. I know he will sense our presence, even when he slips into coma. This man has given up nothing easily, and I know.. and fear... that his brilliant mind will be aware until the end.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:46:42 +0000
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