May 16th, 2013 was a life changing day for my mother and me. 

She was admitted to Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital (HFWH) after a hip fracture. Subsequently, she ended up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on a ventilator. She was awake and alert and looking to the staff for support and encouragement. Well, she definitely found it in one of the most endearing ICU nurses, Amber.

My mom failed several weaning trials, however Amber was always there giving her the two thumbs up. My mom had to be transferred to another facility to be weaned and the mantra followed her. Every Physician wanted to know how the mantra started. She even had two statues of ceramic thumbs in her room.
Following her weaning from the vent, my mom was transferred back to HFWH for physical rehab, along with her positive “Two thumbs up”, attitude.

Mom was discharged from HFWH August, 2013 and continued to glean encouragement from the positive attitude and love that surrounded her. The mantra and support spilled over to Henry Ford Home Care and Telehealth services. Everyone was so amazed at how well my mom had done. The staff at Telehealth was outstanding in addressing all of our concerns.

All of our family members from my children to the great grandchildren always gave my mom the “Two thumbs up”, whenever they came to visit.

Although my mom recently passed away September 30th, 2014, while residing in my home, we were so thankful for all the help and support that she was given. Her discharge home in August 2013, gave us the irreplaceable gifts of life and shared love — 16 months together — to enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s day and even her 96th birthday, June 4th 2014.

Thank you Henry Ford!

Colleen Marie Ryan

It was a Thursday afternoon May 16, 2013 and I was busy at work as usual.

I received a telephone call in my office. I listened with disbelief as I heard the words, “Your mom just fell and it looks like she broke her hip.” Earlier in the day she had completed her normal exercise routine walking on the treadmill and was getting ready to go outside and walk, as it was such a beautiful spring day on Grosse Ile. The neighbors looked forward to seeing her out and about. Her stamina put many to shame.

Life changing event

The following day her surgical procedure, a hip nailing, was scheduled for very late Friday evening. She was in so much pain due to the fracture; I was looking forward to the post-op period so she could start healing. Two years previously she underwent a colon resection and came through with flying colors after spending the immediate post-op period in the ICU where she was closely observed in a small Florida hospital.

Sunday morning at shift change she was extremely short of breath having slept flat on her back all night, something she never did at home. A rapid response was called and she was transferred from the general medical floor to intermediate care, where she lay struggling to breath for another eleven hours. It was Sunday after all. The nurse was adamant when she told me the physician would not be able to see her until 5 pm, after which time he would round on the ICU patients first. After eleven hours she could no longer breathe sufficiently to sustain life on her own. At this time I was approached by the physician (the one we waited eleven hours for) stating we have to “tube” her and she’ll never get off the ventilator. She was finally transferred STAT to the ICU.

Does she smoke? No, never. Does she have a history of COPD? No, never. She walked six days a week, religiously. Sunday was her day of rest.

She was awake. She was alert. She wrote me a note saying her throat hurt so badly and she’d love to have a cup of warm tea. What went so wrong??? Was this a nightmare???

The Doctor looked me straight in the eye while cold heartedly telling me that I would only have until Monday to decide to pull the plug or she would end up in an LTAC (Long Term Acute Care Facility) on a shelf, never getting off the ventilator.

Now remember, my mom is of sound mind. She did ask for warm tea. My son told me to let my mom make the decision about ending her life, allowing her the right to fight if she so desired.

I approached the doctor and told him my son felt it should be my mom’s right to choose whether or not to pull the plug. His response was, “Well, I think your son is wrong.” My son was a medical malpractice defense attorney and had his own opinion.

Much to the medical teams’ dismay, she chose life. Off she went to the LTAC facility via critical care ambulance. Within four weeks she was weaned off life support and was discharged from the LTAC facility on the 4th of July, 2013, Independence Day.

Her struggle to live did not end here and her challenges were many. She had physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. She worked hard and never gave up her desire for life. Her smile could light up an entire room.
On September 30th, 2014, again, she struggled to breathe while under the supportive care of hospice. Still alert, she took her last breath, while holding my hand, surrounded by love.

I am so grateful to my son for reminding me that my mom should be allowed to make her own choice whether to live or die at the hand of the medical team.
She was cared for in my home for the rest of her life, sixteen months. She was happy knowing she was surrounded by love. We will always cherish the memories of her last Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and her 96th birthday June 4th, 2014.

Mom, I love you so very much, and I’m overjoyed that when given the choice, you chose life.

A visit to see Chris August 2012. Dinner at the Baker House in Lake Geneva included trying on many hats from an era gone by. Giggles.