2 Lessons

I had a 4-hour visit with Lily in the hospital this afternoon.  I was giving her mother and step-dad a break as they had been there for ~5 hours straight.

Lily and I had a very lucid talk, which is strange.  In fact, as I entered hallway M-137, I could see her mom talking to a doctor I didn't recognize.  I learned they were talking about Rhonda's release day. The doctor was expressing that there was "no need to worry" about being ejected too early (Rhonda's biggest fear).  That the doctor said he had it "in control" with the insurance company.  Rhonda will only be released when she feels stable enough to go home.  And at this moment, she does not.

"Hmmm," I wondered.  Why is this doctor speaking as if he got the insurance company "in control?" 

Well, lesson 1 of the 2 things I learned this afternoon is that the hospital does not think she has long to live.  Maybe, at this point, a few days. At most.  

The #2 of 2 things I learned today (and this came directly from Lily, herself - later confirmed by both mom and dad as we did our shift change), was that Lily does not necessarily want hospice care.  At all.

She said to me "[My name], this is going to be so hard on you.  So hard," which I responded "Honey, we all are prepared to handle this.  Including me".

She didn't respond.  Instead, we slipped into some Royal Wedding conversation as it was on the TV connected to her bed.

In short, Lily wants to protect us.  She doesn't want us to watch her die at home.  

And the hospital, doctors, and insurance company are all apparently on board.

Well, that's all I can write for now.