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A Caregiver's Code Yellow
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Kara was a lovely 62-year-old woman whose skin color was flagrantly yellow. A pancreatic tumor was
blocking bile secreted by her liver. Her gastrointestinal specialist was in the process of evaluating the spread of the cancer while considering treatment options. Kara was growing impatient while becoming more weak and nauseated. Her best friend, Georgia, accompanied her to the ED, seeking answers and more understanding of Kara’s illness.
Kara was not used to being in the hospital and needing to
follow medical procedures. She did not feel like she was getting straight answers from her specialist. What was her prognosis? Was there an overall game plan? Was she supposed to suffer in silence? Placing a stent to open the blockage was being recommended, but the ED physician posed the question, "Is this a viable option for you?"
The stress was beginning to take its toll. Georgia wanted to help, but felt like she was more of a bystander than an active participant or effective caregiver. Georgia was not trained to respond to the "Caregiver’s Code Yellow," the crucial point at which the patient’s medical condition requires a referral to palliative care services.
These tips will help you best understand
the benefits of palliative care for you
and your patient:
Calling for a Palliative Care Culture
This eloquent article proclaims: "How individuals die matters to the health and well-being of the society." Americans tend to be competitive and aggressive, which prompts doing more than less to those who are dying. The Hippocratic Oath to "Do No Harm" is often overthrown by the cause "We Will Survive."
This article provides a fair and balanced approach to death and dying by stating, Palliative care is more than a clinical practice of relieving physical pain; it addresses spiritual pain through the virtues of wisdom, generosity, compassion, courage, friendship and prudence.
I had to look up “prudence” in Merriam-Webster to better define what palliative care could mean to our society and found these statements:
1. The ability to govern and discipline oneself
by the use of reason.
2. Sagacity or shrewdness in the management
of affairs.
3. Skill and good judgment in the
use
of resources.
4. Caution or circumspection as to danger
or risk.
Prudence is necessary to trigger a cultural shift and public outcry for #DyingLivesMatter
September 6-9, 2017"Conversations Matter Most in the
Emergency Department"
Advance Care Planning and
End-of-Life Care Conference
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Is Palliative Care Right For YOU?
by Kevin J. Haselhorst, MD The key to making medical decisions
is understanding palliative care:
Palliative Care is the
bridge between
advance care
and end-of-life
care.
When you no longer have your health,
how will you spend your time and money?
Is quality of life more important than
staying alive at any cost?
This booklet will teach you: - What palliative care means in practical terms
- The value of making your own medical decisions
- How to gain peace of mind with chronic
illness
Command respect during your next
doctor visit by saying,
"I receive palliative care."
Learn more at KevinHaselhorst.com
DUNKIRK
I sat on the edge of my seat during this epic movie, riveted by gun fire, bombs dropping and sinking ships. The Battle of Dunkirk took place during WWII. The British forces had been separated from the French allies by the Nazis and required immediate evacuation or risk annihilation.
Winston Churchill only expected 30,000 troops to return home, but nearly 300,000 troops made it safely from France to Britain. One soldier felt it odd that someone would thank him for his service and said, "For what? All I did was survive." His survival actually supports my living in the "land of the free" and serves as a personal reminder to never surrender my freedom.
Support Our Troops!
#TributeTuesday
Share a tribute to a loved one who has died, or to mark the anniversary of their death.
From August 8th: #TributeTuesday: Thanks to Valley Big Brothers! My Little Brother, Daniel Dumitrache, earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 7 years!
#WishfulWednesdayHave a wish for the weekend? Post your plan on Wednesday. Practice expressing end-of-life wishes during the prime of life. From August 2nd: #WishfulWednesday: To die in peace - knowing that end-of-life care has changed for the better and the statistics are not fake news.
Washington Post article
How to Approach Living While
Dying
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Living While Dying Please support this film that makes “living while dying” easier for everyone to engage.
Help spread the word about
this Generosity
fundraiser! UPDATE
Immense Possibilities is a weekly public TV
and internet series that featured an interview with Cathy Zheutlin
about Living While Dying.
Watch the interview: (10 minutes)
Watch on Vimeo
Cathy needs to raise more money for the music, the sound mix and the color corrections.
Please help get the word out to others you think
might want to back this project!
Only have time for 24 seconds?
As Cathy explores the reality of her loved ones facing death, she turns the camera around and looks at herself.
How will she approach living while dying?
The end result of the film is to have viewers ponder and pick their own rite of passage.
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