Vegetative state; locked-in syndrome, etc. There are many names, and fewer mansions. Six years like that, from age 62 to 68. A wonderful husband, brother and daughter. Tube feeding via a passage in the stomach wall. She looked at peace and she was enormously loved, but she didn't move voluntarily. Allowing her to die, should her heart or breathing cease, would be the best for her, because any resuscitative measures, would very likely cause her pain and suffering, and unforgivable emotional anguish to her loved-ones. And merely designating her a "No-code", would in no way, hamper the love and compassion that had supported her all this time.



Vegetative Valentine
 
An alternate universe
By any other name,
A vegetative state
They are one and the same.
 
Locked-in syndrome
Trapped within the mind,
No outward sensibility
Eyes open; are they blind?
 
It is easy to be fooled
That there is an occupied awareness,
And so simple to nurture hope
For the family, in all fairness,
As they gasp when there is movement
Of a toe or a hand,
They will argue, “See there’s proof
You just don’t understand,
But we know that Momma
For sure, will get better”;
They all share the delusion
Down to the letter.
 
We don’t try to discourage
And we offer every amenity,
Your Momma’s not in pain
She’s the picture of serenity,
And with Momma taken care of
There are issues to address,
Let’s talk about you
You’re an emotional mess.  

We’ll call in a chaplain
A shaman or a priest,
A rabbi, or a Wiccan
And we'll bow to the east,
To help you come to terms
With your guilt and your need,
But quite frankly, folks
Why let Momma bleed?

We're compassionate beings
We suffer with your pain,
And a locked-in syndrome
Is a prison in her brain,
If she should cardiac-arrest
Her survival might be worse,
Then your loving support
Will be an emotional curse.

A vegetative state
For six years is quite long,
When she said, she wanted everything
It probably wasn't this song,
Playing day in and day out
At 45 RPM,
There's a disconnect somewhere
With the rest of her brainstem.

Why not embrace
A "No-Code" designation,
It doesn't mean "give-up"
It's just another radio station,
Giving Momma more songs to sing
In her silent, smiling way,
You'll still love her, till that moment
If not more, every single day.

Fibril_late;
2/15/09