As I was entering the nursing home this evening and about to say hi to my sister (she works in the office 3 nights a week), my cell phone rang. It was John's liver specialist. I asked why he was denied and he said that they look at the whole picture. The effects of his past head injury, the hip fracture that never healed properly and the deconditioned state he's in led to the decision. He said a transplant is not an option for John. He said he will still care for John if we want. I asked about continuing stomach taps and blood products and he said we need to discuss with John whether to continue these things or discontinue them and make arrangements for hospice.
I didn't want to tell him this news today. Every time I look at him I start crying. He was having a hard time getting comfortable then I realized he was crying. He's frustrated and tired of all this. So we both cried.
Tomorrow I'll ask his PCP what he thinks. He has been very good with John and is very compassionate. If John wants to, we can connect with AGH again for a second opinion. It's hard to know what to do, but I do know one thing. Life is not fair.
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