Aunt on Ventilator for almost 4 mo will she be able to breath?

My Aunt went in for heart bypass surgery almost 4 months ago.She had problems, first was her breast bone-the wires used to sew it back together-they cut thru the bone.Then they tried a muscle wrap and that didn't work. Now she has had to have her chest open to allow the infection to heal. The Dr's planned to graft skin there. During all of this she was placed on a ventilator and had a Trach put in. She has days were she is real alert, and then she has days were she is sedated and sleeps. She is in alot of pain, but she is concious and can "talk" to you by mouthing the words (we have to read her lips). Her children love her very much .They know she would not want to live this way. Her bro & sis do not want to unplug her from vent. The Dr says she will never come off of it. Her kids do not want her quality of life decreased. She will most likely die w/o the vent. Tomorrow Morn. they are to unhook her. Is this what we should do? We all love her and just want whats best.

One of her kids has power of attorney. The Dr says that due to her damaged sternum she will not have the "mechanism" to be able to breath. This is very sad and the family is very divided. I see both sides and understand their concerns and fears.

this is something that you as a family (with help from her doctor) must decide.

It sounds to me like she's on the vent due to the surgery...which doesn't necessarily mean she'll never come off it (I don't know the severity of her condition from the info you provided) It all depends on the cause for needing the vent..sometimes it's due to the medications, which can paralyze the muscles used for breathing, and that once her situation is better she may come off the meds and thus the vent..

if she is still alert at times - she has the opportunity to let you and the doctor know of her wishes concerning this, so obviously she feels there must be some hope to choose to continue with the treatment. If she hasn't let her wishes be known, perhaps encourage her to do so - and to talk to a lawyer to appoint someone to make those decisions in the event that she's not able to herself.

yes, in my opinion, your making the right decision. She would not want to live that way. If the doctor says there is no hope for recovery, then the best thing to do is take her off life support and let her go home to Jesus. He will take care of her. If I were you, I would tell her brothers and sisters to think about the quality of her life. She probably doesnt even know where she is or anything. At least letting her spirit go to heaven will put her at rest and let her have peace again. Just being lost in darkness during a coma is pure hell Im sure. Let her spirit be free and peaceful. It the right thing. The right thing isnt always the easiest thing- remember that. Doing the right thing hurts sometimes.

During your mom's periods of alertness, has anyone spoke to her about her situation? If she does not want to live in the condition she is in...in pain and on a vent, then the vent should be removed. She has lost the quality of life she had before her heart problems...and even with her heart problems prior to surgery. Sometimes "love" means letting go and this may be the time to let go...a selfless love for a cherished mom and aunt.