Hello, my name is Erica. I am raising funds to assist with burial and funeral arrangements for my mom.
My mom turned 61 on May 4th. Late night May 5th she was transported by ambulance to Aultman Hospital. They ran some tests and found out she has Liver Disease. They did not have the specialists to assist with this. So they transported her to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. They were providing her treatment for her liver to get her numbers down.
On Wednesday, May 10th, she woke up confused. She only knew her name but did not know where she was at or why. They began treating her for an infection and doing a full work up. She began eating and was doing better.
On Friday, May 12th, my mom called me twice to talk to me and informed me she was in a lot of pain, all over. Doctors were unable to treat her for it because of her Liver Disease. But we’re doing everything they could to keep her comfortable.
On Sunday, May 14th, on Mother’s Day, I received a phone call at 6AM that she was rushed to the ICU. She became very confused and to prevent her airway from closing up, they intubated her and started her on dialysis because her ammonia levels were very high. They believed there was an infection and continued to treat her for it.
On Tuesday, May 16th, around 9:45PM. I received a phone call from the ICU doctor informing me that her blood pressure dropped drastically. They put her on artificial blood pressure medication to stabilize her blood pressure and asked me if I wanted them to perform CPR, if her heart stopped. After going over the information with the ICU doctor, we came to the conclusion that performing CPR would do more harm than good to her. So, I consented to a DNR. That same night I went straight to Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland.
Wednesday morning (3AM), on May 17th, I spoke with her ICU doctor who called me a few hours prior. And asked her what next steps were as her blood pressure was not stable. The blood pressure medication was not helping her. Her blood pressure continued to be unstable, and the machines were what was keeping her alive.
I made the hardest decision of my life. I decided to take my mom off the machines and pull her breathing tube out. I no longer wanted her to continue suffering through this, and I wanted her to go peacefully.
I informed all family and friends, and everyone in my family; her sisters, my dad, my aunt on my dad’s side, and a few cousins, and her two friends all came to see her that day. Later on Wednesday, as my two aunts; my mom’s sister and my dad’s sister were sitting right next to me when the doctors began taking her breathing tube out, and stopped the machines.
On Thursday morning, May 18th, my mom started opening her eyes more, and speaking to us, answering questions. I had hope that everything was going to work out and she would make it through this. After speaking with the doctors, we were informed that it is not uncommon for patients to have that burst of energy and have that opportunity to speak with us. The prognosis was the same. Mom's liver was failing, as well as her kidneys.
That same day, hospice came in to take over the care for mom to ensure she stayed as comfortable as possible. They informed me she has hours to days, leaning more to days. We were working hard to get her into a nursing home close to home, as this was a request from my mom, that she wanted to go home. Going home was not possible, but we wanted to get her closer to home.
Her hospice nurse admitted her into Cleveland Clinic for the night. And we would work hard to get her into a nursing home on Friday, May 19th. The nurse sent a referral to St Luke’s in North Canton. St Luke’s accepted her on Friday, May 19th and we were getting her transported there that evening.
My mom has seen Jesus and family members who have passed on before us. She has been seeing and speaking to Mama Bear (her mom, my grandma who passed away in 2006). It's such a blessing from God that He gave us more time to spend with her, as we are getting close to the end.
Mom passed away on Saturday, May 27th, 2023. We lost a beautiful soul who loved her grandbabies so so much. And I know she will always be with us, watching over us.
I want to use this money to properly bury my mother. And give her a peaceful resting place.
Thank you. And please pray for my family and I, as well as my children for healing during this very difficult time. ❤️
