Two years ago today, life changed forever. My mom went into the hospital with congestive heart failure, and I rushed down to Portland. The nurses noted that my dad, who had Parkinson’s disease, really shouldn’t be alone while my mom was in the hospital, so I decided to stay in Portland and “work from home” in another state. Just when my mom was getting better, my dad had an adverse reaction to his Parkinson’s medication, and a four-month period where my parents transitioned from standard hospital care to the ICU to skilled nursing and back again began. Then things got worse – my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma, and when his treatment with Rituxan didn’t create any change, his oncologist noted that hospice was our only remaining option. Barely two months after his diagnosis, he was gone. Through this experience, I learned a lot about helping my parents, dealing with terminal illness and keeping them as comfortable as possible. I hope to share some of my knowledge with others who are facing the same dark days.
