I am daughter of a retired civil engineer who passed away on 24th JUNE 2016. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson from past 10 years. He was just 62 years old when he passed away. He was the most humble man who helped everybody, never made any enemies in life and loved his family. He was a very hardworking person who wanted to give good life to his three daughters. I am a very proud daughter and lucky to have had him as my father.I miss him a lot.
Now I want to tell the story that what happened in the past few months before he died. My father had his first hallucinations attack last year in November. Thankfully, he recovered well after few months. Now I realize it was all due to the Parkinson medicines he was taking. He was supposed to undergo DBS surgery on 2nd May 2016 which did not happen. Few days before his surgery date he again had a psychosis attack. He refused to eat anything, take his medicines and tried to finish himself. Unfortunately, my mom was alone at home with my father and she couldn't decide what she should do. When my dad had psychosis attack last time we took him to a local neurologist. This time we took him to a so called famous hospital multi specialty hospital. My dad protested as he didn't wanted to go anywhere.His condition got worse when he reached hospital. He was taken in emergency room and they gave him some sedation to calm him down. After few hours when my dad came out he couldn't move his body much. Before taking him to the room , the doctors inserted NG tube as they said his mind is not okay so he couldn't eat and drink.Next day my father was unable to breathe and he was rushed to ICU. Next day he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. After a week he started recovering.
Next day we got to know that my father was unable to breathe and they asked for permission to put him on ventilator. Thankfully, it wasn't required. They said my father was unable to take out his secretions and to be suctioned.Because of pneumonia his body became stiff and there were no movements.
On 2nd May he had undergone tracheotomy surgery instead of the planned DBS surgery.
After few days he started recovering.Slowly his body movements started. After few days he started walking with support. He was shifted to room again and recovered well. He could speak with a speaking valve.
His swallowing tests took place when he was in room. All the swallowing tests failed. Doctors advised us to take him home he will recover well there. We kept questioning when he will eat and drink but they said swallowing will take time. After almost 45 days stay in hospital we took our father home.
He was very happy being at home. He started walking on his own after few days. He did regular exercises, watched TV, went to the park , we all had spent quality time together. He kept asking when he will start eating and drinking again.
After 15 days we again took him to the hospital for his swallowing test. unfortunately, it did not happen as he had tremors that time. His tremors increased and troubled him so much. He had an anxiety attack one day.Next day again tremors troubled him. I went to see the doctor that day to talk about
his anxiety attack and increased tremors (dyskinesia). The doctor gave a mild medicine of anxiety. We gave him that medicine and he slept. Around 1 am he woke up and he acted strange , moved his hands in the air and didn't seem all right. We thought its an anxiety attack again and tried to calm him down. Last time when he had such attack , he was all right on his own after some time. We checked his vitals they were fine. After an hour he was normal and he slept.We also went to sleep.
Next morning when we woke up my father was no more. My father's full time nurse told us he did woke up 3 am midnight to pass urine. He was fine that time. My father slept again so he also slept with him. We don't know what happened to him all of sudden when he was recovering so well. When we saw him in the morning his mouth was
open and some portion of eyes was black. We rushed him to the hospital on seeing him like this. Doctor said he was no more and had passed away 2 to 3 hours before only. I am unable to understand what happened to him. Was it god's will and it was his time to leave us.
One thing that keeps coming in my mind that he was wearing a speaking valve. He was very comfortable with it and slept with it in the afternoon also or when he was taking rest. Was it because of speaking valve he died? That day he slept in the evening and woke up at 12 and had a strange attack after that so we didn't paid attention to the speaking valve. Doctors and nurse said he can wear it as long as he is comfortable with it. The cuff was deflated and then the speaking valve was put. We checked his cuff was deflated after he died.MY sister says its not because of speaking valve that he died. Strange thoughts keep coming in my mind that he might suffocated and died. He would have obviously struggled for oxygen when he was dying even if it was because of some other reason.We even had an oxygen cylinder with us but unfortunately nothing helped in saving my father. CAN ANYBODY HELP ME WITH THE THOUGHTS THAT ARE COMING IN MY MIND AND I FEEL LIKE A CRIMINAL WHO SLEPT THAT NIGHT AND DIDN'T NOTICE THE SPEAKING VALVE NOT REMOVED. THAT NIGHT I HAD PLANNED NOT TO SLEEP BUT THE ATTENDANT SAID HE WAS AWAKE AND IT WAS NOT REQUIRED.I cried and slept that night and woke up early in the morning hearing my mother mourning.
