I was having some guilt thoughts last night. AfterJeff's heart transplant he was very weak. He had three surgeries in one day. When they finally got him off the ventillator he was very, very weak. Jeff said to me," Mama, I don't ask anyone for much. I want to eat but I'm much too weak to feed myself. Would you please feed me my meals?"   I was happy to help Jeff in any way that I could. What are Moms for, right? Well, the nurses had other ideas. They said that if you don't use your motor skills, you will loose them. Since it was looking like he would be in the hospital for a while, I wanted him to do things the way that the medical prof. said was best... I stopped feeding him.    To some people this might sound like an insignificant thing. To me it is enormous. I wish I had just told the nurses that they work for us. NOT the other way around. I am Jeff's mother. This is MY decision. not yours. I wish I would have stood up for him when he was counting on me to do so.    This is hopefully an eye opener for everyone who reads this. Please tell your friends and loved ones when their loved ones are in hospitals. you have rights. Patients have rights. Just because a nurse or even a doctor orders something, that doesn't make it scripture. If you don't agree with an order, question it. If you still don't agree, well, you have the right to refuse.

Replies

deleted_user
deleted_user

A BIG AMEN TO THAT..........I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user

My mom had a similar experience when my older brother was a baby he was in the hospital and my mom did what the nurses told her too, she now wishes she had just done what her maternal instincts told her to do. So when my dad was sick in the hospital she had no problem questioning or ignoring them when needed! I am sorry that you feel guilty:( You shouldn\'t:)
deleted_user
deleted_user

Thanks for the advise. You were doing what they told you would be the best thing for Jeff. Please don\'t feel guilt. Take Care joeymom Lucille
deleted_user
deleted_user

I agree with you but you can\'t beat yourself up over it. You thought you were doing a good thing. Throw the guilt away. Lots of hugs, Jake\'s mom, Kathy