Reference no: EM133855707
Assignment:
My name is Julia Morales and I just turned 65-years-old. My life has not been a traditional one. I have always believed in following your dreams and being true to yourself, that's what my parents taught me. When I look back over my 65 years on this earth, I feel happy and proud with what I have accomplished, and I don't need any pity. Of course I was shattered when I learned I had lung cancer four years ago. But I fought a good fight. I followed all the recommendations my doctor had for me. I did the radiation and all the chemotherapy. I even got complementary treatment from a naturopathic doctor. It's just that we all know it's not doing any good anymore. I'm ready to stop all the treatment and just let go. It hurts to breathe, it hurts to move. Everything hurts. But like I said, I don't need any pity. I've had a really great life. Would have liked to stick around a little longer, but I know it's not to be. Still, I think my folks would be pretty proud to see what I've done. They got married young, right out of high school, and my Dad left Ohio to go off to war. He left Mom behind and fought in Europe for two years.
My Dad was a strong person, he landed on the beach at Normandy and lived to tell about it. My mom worked hard in a factory while he was gone, and when he got back they had me, their only child. They did so much for me. Whatever I was interested in, they encouraged. We were a close family, took a lot of trips together, that's how I got the traveling bug. They wanted me to go to college to be a nurse, or a teacher. I went because they saved money and encouraged me. But I never really wanted to be a nurse or a teacher. I got a degree in business instead, and ran a small nursery.
My folks were happy because I was happy. Then when I was about 50, I got tired of the business end of it, so I sold it to a young couple, and continued to work for them. I loved the place and the job. Still do. Just haven't had the strength to work for the past six months. I had a few relationships in college, got married for a short time right after I graduated. Had my son, Neil, he's 42 already. But that didn't last. We got divorced when Neil was little, I raised him on my own. I still talk to my ex on occasion. He remarried, though I never did. I had a few relationships, and always lots of friends. I met Lucy over 20 years ago when she moved in next door. We've been together ever since. We've traveled all over in the past 20 years.
She would never have gone without me doing the planning, but she's enjoyed it as much as I have. We've been to Japan, Italy, Ireland, and all over the US. She has a bad knee and had surgery, she's a little unstable and I worry about that. We had to stop taking the long trips. I've been pretty healthy too, until this cancer. I smoked for about 10 years, after college. Then I quit. We didn't really know then that it was dangerous. Nobody knew. I was surprised when I got lung cancer. At first we thought I had pneumonia. But it never got better, and after the bronchoscopy they found lung cancer. I did the radiation treatment and the chemotherapy. For some of it I had to be in the hospital a few days, which just about killed me. Never did like hospitals, ever. But the treatment makes you so sick you want to die. And the bad thing is, it didn't cure the cancer. We tried a few different treatments but no more. Nothing good came out of it. I just felt weak and sick, and the cancer got worse. 2 I'm ready to stop all this.
I just want to be here in this house that I love. I'm comfortable here. Lucy is here, and she understands. She doesn't like to see me so sick either. She does a good job taking care of me, and we're doing OK. My son Neil would like me to try more treatment, but even the doctor says there's not much more they can do, besides keep me comfortable. I'm tired, and I'm just ready to let things happen naturally. Do you think that's giving up?"
Neil's point of view: "I just heard that my mom is stopping treatment. I feel very strongly that Mom needs to continue her chemotherapy and radiation. She is only 65 years old and has a lot of good years left to live. I know she says that these have been hard on her and I get it, but she's just having a bad day. She's also listening way too much to Lucy. Lucy's not even family and it's not like they're married or anything. Their grand plan is for Lucy to take care of Mom in her home. I don't see how that's going to work. It's not like Lucy's a spring chicken. She has issues of her own. What if mom falls or gets sick? She needs to stay right here, get the treatment she needs, and then go home, better. Who knows, maybe she can even travel again. When is the doctor coming?
I know she's got a good plan. I need to speak to her today. I'm leaving town tomorrow afternoon and I need to get this settled before then." Lucy's point of view: Hey. I heard Neil talking to you. I gotta tell you that I'm really worried. Julia and I have had this plan for her to stop treatment and go home for ages. I love her. I can't imagine life without her, really, but I have to respect what she wants. She has no life with all this chemo has done to her. She's in pain all the time. She hates hospitals. Neil has come to visit, like, on holidays? He's a sweet kid but he has no idea what Lucy is going through. No idea. None. We've been together 20 years and, what, all of the sudden I have no say?
We've been waiting for the doctors to come around for ages and it's awkward because we can't even be in Julia's room together. I'm so upset that it's come to this. Lord knows what the doctor's been telling Neil. More treatment this. More chemo that. It's not what she wants and nobody but that nice lady from the home care, what's her name, seems to get that.
- How do you as the RN feel about Julia's request to stop treatment?
- How would you as the RN respond to Julia's son, Neil?
- How would you as the RN respond to Julia's partner, Lucy?
Please use scholarly references no wikipedia, please send citations of were you got the information.