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making decisions

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Written by suew 25. Apr 2008 04:48 AM

I just read a blog on Strokenet in which the poster questioned the decisions she and her family made to keep her husband alive four years ago. He is now a high care patient and because he is an intelligent man in a disabled body questions her constantly: "why didn't you let me die?".

We can all with hindsight see the decisions we made with our loved ones and know that they were not perfect. I wonder if it would have made a difference to Ray seven years ago if I had fought to get his driver's licence back and maybe given him (and myself) more freedom. Instead I saw all the risks involved and decided that the doctors were right and his driving days were over.

As Ray deteriorates in health and abilities I will start questioning if it is time to put him into permanent care. I know my decision will be half-right. Hey! I am a flawed human being,I don't have a crystal ball and will just make the best decision I can based on what I know about my ability to cope and Ray's condition at the time.

I know people on here question the decisions they have made. It is human to do so. Some of you are undermined by other members of the family who want to make the decisions but do not want to participate in the hands-on caring. I just hope we all make decisions on another's behalf with the best interests of our loved ones at heart.

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Comments from the community:

Hi suew,
Just had a read of your new entry,I know that whatever decision you and all of us make will never be the right one in someones eyes, as you well know can't please all the people all the time,seems that we all have to be comfortable with our decisions and in the end we are the ones left to make these decisions just know that we all here fully understand how you are feeling.To tell you the truth last year when I bought Dad home just for a couple of days.... If I could make the decision over again now the answer would have been no,but what can we do???just the best we can, and you have certainly have been doing above your best,at the end of the day you can hold your head high and be proud of who you are and a job well done.Take care and may the Angels guide you in the right direction.
XXCHEZXX

Written by Anonymous, 25. Apr 2008 01:19 PM