Skip to main content

How Young Adults Plan for their Now Care and End of Life


The first week Mathew was at Moffitt he was given a planning guide for adolescents and young adults. It covers how they want to be comforted, supported, what medical treatments they want at end of life, things they want their family to know and more.

It seems innocuous at first glance but I suspect Mathew realized at he went through it what the possible outcomes for him could be. Dr. Knight, the pain and palliative doctor, helped him get started. The social worker witnessed his signature for his choice of health care agent/caregiver.

To be honest, I didn't read through this until after Mathew had passed away. Though everything in it he had gone over with me many times in different ways. Often in our drives back and forth to appointments, Mathew explained his wishes and his beliefs to me and how he wanted his end of life services conducted. Right down to his wish that one of his cats be present with him when he passed, so they would understand what happened and not look for him afterward.

Here are 2 pages from this pamphlet.




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Replace the 3 Lumen Pic Line with a Port

Mathew's 3 Lumen Pic Line was replaced with a Power P.A.C. Both Mathew and I were given Medical I.D. cards to carry at all times. I have mentioned before that texting from the DRC is almost impossible. The staff told me it used to be the X-ray department so the walls are leaded. Again, the phone tree would have helped so much. I texted the following information to my niece, my sister and Mathew’s Dad and Stepmom. And probably Joseph and Carlos. I know that could have been reduced to two texts, three at the most. At the time  I didn’t know about group messaging as my phone was an old Android. Texts Between me and Diane Hi. We are at the hospital early because Mat is in a lot of pain.  We think the bill stent may have moved. Sent 3-31-14 Because he was NPO for other  procedure they should be able to fix today. Sent 3-31-14 In the DRC sending texts is almost impossible so if you don’t hear from me for a while don’t worry. If ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Cancer Poem by Mathew Rodgers 2014

From Mathew’s Journal 4-5-14 “I lie awake in my pain bed metallic noises chirping from my strange computer  companion”
Post a Comment
Read more

Who is the Keeper of the Memories

Mathew and his twin Joseph had a teacher in High School, Brad Ash. He was a homeroom teacher, a counselor and eventually a friend and bandmate. The evolution of their relationship spanned six years. Brad eventually became my friend too. When I think of Brad Ash, I see him with long blond rock star hair! He regularly cut it and donated it to locks for love. Mathew soon followed his example. In 2010 Brad, an avid cyclist was struck and killed by an SUV. Mathew was allowed into the ICU to see Brad during the few days before he died. He never regained consciousness. If you listen to Adrian Told Me, the last verse is about Brad. "She said, did he leave his eyes open." https://soundcloud.com/confectionsforcats/adrian-told-me Brad's students and friends, were devastated by his sudden death. The young people organized a night of music in his memory. Now, as I continue to go through Mathew's paperwork, I find articles about Brad's accident. Mathew was one of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more