Expert: Paula Damgaard - 1/25/2009

Question
HEY, MY MOTHER HAS HAD AD FOR 9 YEARS.  SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL STOKES ALSO.  SHE HAS JUST HAD ANOTHER ONE AND IS IN THE HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR UTI AND PNEUMONIA.  3 DAYS AGO SHE WAS ABLE TO SWALLOW (STROKE LAST WEEK), NOW SHE CAN'T.  WE AREN'T DOING THE FEEDING TUBE.  SHE NO LONGER CAN SPEAK OR MAKE ANY SOUND. SHE CAN BARELY TRACK YOUR MOVEMENTS.  HER EYES BARELY OPEN. UTI ISN'T IMPROVING, PNEUMONIA IS.  MY QUESTION IS...WITH NO FOOD OR WATER WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TIME THAT ONE CAN LIVE?  IS IT DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS?  WE CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS FROM THE DOCTORS.  PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TYPE OF IDEA OF A TIME FRAME THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.  THANKS, CF

Answer
Cindy, I am sorry I can't be of much help.  One can never know.  Depends on the will of the person.  I would think that if the antibiotics are not working she would live another two weeks, but it also depends on what else the doctors are treating her with.  If you are really ready for her to stop suffering you need to tell the doctors to stop and only give her comfort care.  There isn't really a need to keep treating her, all you are doing is giving her quantity of life not quality.  

So my advice is to talk to the doctors and tell them to stop.  

I hope she goes quickly.  For her sake as well as yours.  Take care Paula