Margaret kraft's Blog – June 2013 Archive (2)

This has been one of the most heart-wrenching weeks of work for me in a while. One story to share. I was admitting a woman in her 50's (who is expected to live 4 weeks at the most) to hospice services. These appointments generally last close to 4 hours, and much of my 26 pages of paperwork doesn't take lots of brain cells. I take cues from the patient and family as to how much "extra" conversation in which to engage. I felt a particular kinship with this patient, and we talked about…

Today is my 48th birthday. That number gets noticed in my family. And not in a good way.



In some ways, it has taken on a somewhat dark significance. Mother died suddenly at the age 48. She appeared healthy, but there was a silent aneurysm that ruptured and killed her. Four other family members also died at this age--two from very similar causes. The doctors agreed that her siblings, my brother and sister and I, and our cousins should all get tested for signs of a…