The end of this chapter by Angela Schlaack — 1 minute ago Mike passed away yesterday, September 29, at the Hanson Hospice Center. Dr. Liu had given us a prognosis of about two weeks and that was two weeks ago today. Mike was feeling pretty well on Saturday and thankfully we had decided to celebrate Emmas birthday a few weeks early knowing that it was highly likely hed be here October 15. He was becoming weaker and needed oxygen pretty much 24/7, but his pain level was tolerable most of the time. By Sunday afternoon, things started progressing very rapidly. He lost the ability to stand or even walk assisted with a walker due to weakness. He was sweating more and was in more pain. I called a hospice nurse Sunday evening and his oxygen flow needed to be increased and she started him on some liquid pain meds. I somehow was able to get him up the stairs and into bed but knew the night was going to be rough. I had to wheel him on the seated walker to the bathroom which proved fairly difficult. He went back to sleep but his breathing was noisy and restless. Around 5:30 he needed to go again but this time something really changed. His eyes were glazed, he could barely talk or even sit on the walker. As I was trying to get him back onto the walker, he just dropped to the floor and I couldnt budge him. I knew he could hear me, but he couldnt really speak. I called hospice and Mikes parents to come over because I knew this was beyond what I could manage. Hospice and his dad couldnt lift him and they determined it was best to get to the hospice center to help his breathing. It took two paramedics and a policeman to get him up and onto a stretcher. Hes about 175lbs but he was just difficult to lift. From there we were immediately set up in the hospice center which is only a mile or so from our house. This is where Mike wanted to be. Fortunately Emma was off to school before the police and paramedics arrived though she knew he was going to the center. She was able to tell him goodbye and he managed to mouth bye back to her. I know when she said that though she didnt realize it was forever. In the ambulance he started talking and chatted with his dad who rode with him. Thank God for my angel Rachel Kyncl. She drove me there, just like she drove me to UChicago the night he was diagnosed. He stopped speaking again once there and after buckets of sweating, heavy labored breathing, lots of pain meds and just sleeping. I had asked the doctor if she felt I had time to run home quickly to clean up and grab some things. She said I should but I knew I needed to make it quick. I got things cleaned up that I didnt want Emma to see when she came home later, took a 30 second shower and next thing I knew Rachel was inside saying hed had a seizure and I needed to come back. There was my angel again, driving me when I cant think straight. I believe he had waited for me to leave the room to really start to let go. He was adamant that he didnt want to die at home because he didnt want Emma or I to see it happen or see him carried out of our house that way. I was met at the door by the centers social worker to get me right back to the room. He had just a few light ticks of his heart and then he was gone. I cannot begin to explain my feelings so I wont even try. I loved that Hanson Hospice never rushed us, let us stay as long as we wanted and we did. Ill be making arrangements today with Mikes parents. He had very specific ideas of what he wanted. There will be a celebration of life within the next 2 weeks. Much love and thanks to everyone.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:27:54 +0000
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