It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

Many times families struggle with letting their loved ones go.  It is easy to say what we want to happen to our family member and not examine what he or she would want for themselves. Working in the ICU, I see this on a regular basis.  A patient merely exists because their family selfishly keeps them alive when all odds are against their survival.  They say God will give us a miracle!  I too believe in God and his miracles but he also gave us common sense to know when it is time to let go.  If it is his will for he or she to survive, they will.  I don't know many people who would want to live their life and not be able to enjoy it.  We must look at "quality" of life and not "quantity".  When your family is lying in that bed, put yourself in their shoes.  Ask yourself is this how I would want to live the rest of my life?  Love them enough to let go and enjoy the happy times you had with them.  I would hope my family loved me enough to not let me suffer that way if all hope for a life of quality was  nonexistent.

What would your wishes be?  What would you do? Share your thoughts, comments or experiences.