Dad may not have long to live

(reposted after accidental deletion)

I would guess around 2 weeks.

Hospice has been able to greatly ease Dad's pain during their visits.  Mom and I have not had as much success, but our efforts have allowed Dad to have rest, although fitful.

Mom has taken it very hard at times, but often got distracted yesterday (Friday), by things such as TV news segments or a political advertisement.  She read through the political paper multiple times, repeating comments, for the election she already absentee voted for.  Last night she got very little sleep, so was more focused today.

As expected and known, but still hard to accept, Dad is dying. 
Hospice does not give him long.  Much more than hours.  Mom got the idea of about a week.  I got the impression they can not predict so well yet (or ever), but think less than a month.  Based on a pamphlet they provided of symptoms of approaching death, if Dad is following most common timeline, it will be about 2 weeks.  However, the pamphlet said very clearly that everyone is different, and estimates are very approximate.

Mom did not sleep last night but was able to sleep this afternoon some while Dad was also soundly sleeping.  Mom gets very saddened and stressed because she sees Dad in pain, and does not know of anything she can do to help him.  Since Dad has not been wearing pajamas the last couple days, she sees more clearly now how much weight he has lost.  His very thin frame has helped her understand and acknowledge that Dad is very sick with the cancer.

When Dad is responsive, he seems confused much of the time.  At one point he asked me who are you.  Another time, what year is it.  Yet another time he said he did not know where he was.  When dealing with items such as medicine or moving, he seems very clear minded.  Some times his interaction is just moaning in pain.  Once I heard him say a short prayer to God for help.

A positive of the day was Mom was able, for the first time ever, to get Dad to take some pain relief medicine when he did not want to.

Dad occasionally will try to get out of bed to go to the bathroom.  He does not have enough strength to even sit up, but he forgets that.  In the morning he was enough out of the bed to be in danger of falling out, but the hospice help thankfully were able to be called in from outside to get Dad back in bed.  Later in the day he did not seem to have as much energy to get as far.

Mom had a frustration with the liquid pain relief medicine bottle.  She could not get the child proof cap off.  Thankfully I was there to open it, and we did not screw it on tight again.

Much thanks go to Cousin Sean and Aunt Luise and Uncle Chuck.  So far, Mom's attitude has been affectionate to them, so they have been able to be a real blessing to Mom and Dad.  Mom has enjoyed talking to Aunt Luise on the phone, and is very much looking forward to an expected visit from them.  Cousin Sean's visits have been encouraging.  Dad even asked for his nephew today, and I am very glad that I could say he was planning on visiting tomorrow.