Writing this through my tears-from Kateel

Kateel,
My thoughts and
Kateel,

My thoughts and prayers go out to you, your family and to Bill. These are such difficult times for those of us left behind but I can feel your love for your husband and how you want to do the right thing.

We faced something very similar with my dad when he developed a severe infection that could not be treated - at the time he was still on a feeding tube but he was slipping in and out of a coma and the feedings were not being assimilated by his body and he was puffing up like a balloon and it caused him much discomfort. After speaking with the Hospice nurse, the doctors and then discussing it as a family we decided that we would not force feed him with the feeding tube. We still gave him water and other fluids and tried to get him to eat what he could. When we made that decision we knew it was only a matter of time before he would pass away but they made sure he received pain medication and was comfortable. After we stopped the feeding he actually became more conscious and seemed much more comfortable and spoke --- his body was trying so hard to absorb the nutrients it no longer needed that he wasn't able to have any comfort. Although, letting him go was the hardest thing any of us had to do I know that it was the right thing. He told me several days before he passed I am so tired I want to go ... and I held his hand and kissed his check and told him I loved him and it was okay he could go to heaven we would take care of mom.

I cried and I kept crying and was so worn out like you --- I still miss him so much - but these days I am more likely to smile when I feel sad and remember him it isn't easy and I am crying as I write you and there will always be an empty place. And my mom told me the other day she keeps his picture by her bed and says Good Morning to him every day and Goodnight when she goes to sleep. God bless you and hold you in his arms.

Hugs and prayers,
Cindy