StrokeSurvivorBlog

If you have to go to the hospital for an emergency, do you want to be resuscitated? We all take for granted that when we go to a hospital for an emergency, the doctors, nurses and staff are trying to save our life. This was the assumption I was under when my husband had a stroke in February 2008.

Little did I know that the ER doctor placed him under a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). It was coded into his identification wristband, so every time it was scanned to administer medication, the DNR was noted.

Of course, I didn’t know this until three days later. The doctors were very concerned that the swelling in Steve’s brain would trigger a series of other strokes, which would most likely prove fatal. I overheard the neurologist say to another doctor out in the hallway that if that happened, Steve was under a DNR.

When I heard that, I recalled something that happened in the emergency room the night of the stroke. The neurologist asked Steve if he wanted to be resuscitated. Steve paused for a minute and then in his slurred speech said “No”. He was so confused, so I thought that was an odd question for the doctor to ask him, especially since he failed to explain to Steve just exactly what that meant. But there was so much going on, I didn’t give it another thought…until I overheard that hallway conversation.

This troubled and angered me at the same time. When I went home that night, I dug out our critical papers. And I prayed that Steve would be okay, because I knew no measures would be taken to save his life. They would just let him die.

Just three months before, Steve and I drew up our end-of-life papers, which included a Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Durable Power of Attorney for financial decisions (POA). I knew exactly what his wishes were.

The next morning I asked the doctor if the DNR meant that they wouldn’t even try CPR on him if he needed it, and he said that was correct. I told him that I was Steve’s health care agent and had the Power of Attorney for Health Care, and I wanted the DNR removed. He argued with me for a minute or two until I told him that I knew what Steve’s wishes were, because I had all the paperwork with me. On that note, he gave orders to remove the DNR and put Steve on a full resuscitate code, and I watched while they switched out his wristband.

How invaluable that paperwork was! Who would have guessed that I would be using the POA so soon.

Why is it that most people procrastinate when it comes to drawing up a Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?

I think one reason is the cost. Another reason is that they just don’t want to think about it.

Three months prior to Steve’s stroke, we were helping his parents draw up their paperwork. Both of them were in ill health and we knew their documents needed updating. They were reluctant to hire an attorney because of the cost involved, so I helped them find the right documents and did it for them according to their wishes. Since I had all the documents in my computer, I decided to update our paperwork as well. Everything was notarized and distributed to the alternate health care agents we designated.

On the POA for Health Care you can designate a Statement of Desires, Special Provisions or Limitations. The issue of DNR can be addressed here. In extreme terminal or comatose situations, many people do not wish to have their life extended by artificial methods.

Steve and I discussed these end-of-life questions, and the issue of being resuscitated was addressed. Knowing what his wishes were prior to the stroke gave me confidence to make bold decisions for him.

If cost is an issue for you, there are some very good computer software programs that can help you, so why put it off any longer? You’ll never know when you need it.