My brother was a quadriplegic for over 20 years. I got a call that he had fallen into a coma, and I needed to come as soon as possible. I drove the 10 hours to the hospital, and the ICU nurse told me that his organs were failing, and he didn’t have much longer to live. He had sepsis, which is pretty much a death sentence. The only thing keeping him alive was the medication they were feeding him through IV tubing to keep his blood pressure from falling any further.
The following morning, I was told that we were waiting for the doctor to come, so we could give her instructions to stop the medicine, and let him go. My sister-in-law was so strong. She showed concern enough for me to ask what my thoughts were about letting him die. I tearfully told her I agreed with her, and that I knew he wouldn’t want to live like that. There was no hope of him ever coming out of the coma.
I felt weak and dizzy while we waited for the doctor. I told my sister-in-law I didn’t think I could stay to watch him die. I told her the last thing she needed was to worry about me hitting the floor if I fainted. She hugged me and told me she understood, and that I should do what I felt I needed to do.
I then took a couple of minutes alone with my brother to thank him for being such a wonderful part of my life, and tell him how much I loved him. Then I kissed him goodbye and left.
He was a very understanding person, and I think he would have told me to go, but I really regret not staying there with him. I feel like I really let everyone down.