HW #30

Facing terminal illness, something we all hope we will never have to experience even though the majority of us do. When we do have to face and experience terminal illness as the patient or even as a loved one of the patient, what do we do, how do we react? Being that I was curious about how different types of people are affected by the terminal illness and death of loved ones, I decided to interview two people who experienced it. The two people I interviewed were my; 18 year old half brother Jamal and 61 year old grandmother Carolyn. 

(First answers written are Jamal’s and second answers are Carolyn’s)

1. How old was your mother when she passed away?--37

                                                                                             --85 

  2)Terminal Illness?-Colon Cancer

                                -blocked bowel 

3)How’d it happen?- Severe stomach pains but denied colonoscopy because of young age. Later on found out that colonoscopy could have saved her life.

                                 -Sever stomach pains, was brought to surgery as soon as possible because of old age

4) How’d you feel about her being sick sick?- Wasn't worried because believed that things will pass over at the start. Over time began to face reality that death was a huge possibility

                                                                       - Very worried about her because of her old age at the start, when it became clear that dying was a possibility still was denying death.

5) How long was she sick? - 1 year

                   - 1 month 

6) Did you discuss the illness with her?- No, tried to keep it away from me

                                                              - Discussed it all the time

7) How as the Hospital treatment?- Very good

                                                    - Bad, mistreated

8)How was your relationship with person while ill?- Became very close because constantly having to aid her

                               - Always had a very close relationship

9)How did she change over time, while in hospital?- Condition got worst and worst, began to look like a different person.

                                 - Looked fine and thought that she was going to be leaving hospital soon but unfortunately passed away.

Before this Interview I could have imagined that my brother being that he is so young would have been more affected and more hurt by the death of his mother than my grandmother was. In reality my grandmother seemed as if she was hurt more simply by her shedding a vast amount of tears. One of the most significant things I learned after this interview was how people react when people first become sick. Most people look at a doctors appointment or a simple stop to the emergency room as something to not worry about, but in reality “Today more Americans die in hospitals than anywhere else.” (A time to die, 25) Not only the patients but us as the loved ones of the patients have to be more aware of what is the problem. This shows that the dominant social practices of illness & dying in our culture are making things worst. We believe that the hospitals and doctors will all work to their full potential or give us the best treatment they can give us, but some times this is not the case. This interview showed me this when my Grandmother answered that her 87 years old mother received horrible treatment in the hospital. Also when my 18 year old brother Jamal explained that his mother was denied a colonoscopy when that could have been the key to saving her life. This is very significant to our lives. If we do not only leave our lives in the hands of doctors and hospitals we will have a better chance of living for a longer period of time. The doctors jobs are to too aid us when we are in need but our number one priority should be looking out for ourselves.

Source: And a time to die: How Americas Hospitals