Tuesday 20 May 2014

Another Brother About to Die

My younger brother David is seriously ill with lung cancer. He is at home waiting for the end.

The hospital was unable to help him any more. They did cut out the cancer in his throat but it had spread to both lungs. He was sent home, along with a hospital bed and other equipment, to be tended by his partner Margaret and the palliative care team.

My hope is that his pain and suffering will be mercifully short-lived. 

David is 72, about eight years younger than I.

My dear brother Geoff died five years ago, again of cancer.

My youngest brother Michael died aged 45, of a severe brain haemorrhage, thankfully swiftly with no lingering pain.

We humans generally take pity on our animal friends and pets and don't allow them to linger on in hopelessness and pain. Why do we not afford human animals the same privilege?

I do not know.  Do you?

2 comments:

Snowbrush said...

Philip, I am so sorry. This post was dated differently from the others, but I suppose it was from December, so maybe he has died by now.

PhilipH said...

Hi Lowell, nice to see you and hope you are feeling a lot better after your short break.

My now youngest brother David is still battling on but he will soon, hopefully, surrender to cancer. He was 'not responding' yesterday although his eyes were open. Later he tore off the oxygen and tried to get out of the bed. The St.Christopher nurse called to give him something to quieten him down. He has dementia as well as the other illness. Sometimes the dying will have a resurgence of strength and very soon give up entirely and leave this cruel life quickly.
Hoping this might be so in David's case.
There should be a LAW against this kind of cruelty to humankind.