What to do with my Dad's cpap?

[Starlette]

Good evening everyone.

I don't know how to say all this but just be short, straight and to the point....My family has known for about 2 years my Dad has end stage cirrhosis of the liver. My Mom got the news of his physical yesterday of blood work and all. On there it stated that is his kidneys are failing which I'm guessing now that the vital organs are beginning to shut down. Recently, I learned that he's pretty much stopped using his cpap. I've tried to educate my Mom and him why it was vital that he use it. He has a cpap just like mine. When the time comes (you know what I mean), what can I suggest to my Mom to get rid of cpap so someone else can use it?

Thanks.
Starlette

[Goofproof]

iIf you don't have a backup xpap, problem solved. It pays to have two, I have three. Jim Charity begins at home.

[WestCoastCdnGrl]

iIf you don't have a backup xpap, problem solved. It pays to have two, I have three. Jim Charity begins at home.

Further to this suggestion, you could just keep your Dad's machine at your Mom's place (I am assuming that you don't live with them)... that way if you stay overnight with your Mom at her place, you don't have to worry about packing up your kit to take with you to her house.

[archangle]

Good evening everyone.

I don't know how to say all this but just be short, straight and to the point....My family has known for about 2 years my Dad has end stage cirrhosis of the liver. My Mom got the news of his physical yesterday of blood work and all. On there it stated that is his kidneys are failing which I'm guessing now that the vital organs are beginning to shut down. Recently, I learned that he's pretty much stopped using his cpap. I've tried to educate my Mom and him why it was vital that he use it. He has a cpap just like mine. When the time comes (you know what I mean), what can I suggest to my Mom to get rid of cpap so someone else can use it?

Thanks.
Starlette

Do you already have a spare machine? Or hang on to it for the next family member or friend who needs a new or replacement CPAP machine.

If not, craiglist or cpapauction. I don't know if there are any organized charities that take used machines, but you might find one.

[Otter]

I'm sorry to hear your father is dying. We all do eventually, but that doesn't mean it's easy to watch someone you love go through it. As you know, CPAP might help him, but maybe at this stage, that's not really what he wants. I knew someone dying of cancer who reached a point where he just wanted to move on to his afterlife, and though many around him could not accept this, his wife understood and supported it. May your father either have a miraculous recovery or an easy passing, whichever his right for him.

If you already have a spare and don't know anyone who needs a machine, the ASAA has a program. You can make contact through SecondWind. You can probably do so directly too, but the folks at SW are very good people, so I'd go that route.

http://www.secondwindcpap.com/Selling_Used_CPAP.html

If we cannot make an offer on your device because of the physical age, or high number of hours on the machine, you might want to consider it for donation. In cooperation with the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA), we work with clinics, hospitals, and doctor's offices across the country to help provide, through donated materials, equipment for those individuals that cannot afford to purchase this equipment at any price. If you are a clinician, physician, or social worker attempting to obtain this equipment for a patient in need, or are interested in donating your equipment, please contact us. All donations will receive a letter of thanks from the ASAA with the serial number of your donated machine.

Feel free to contact us via email, or call toll free 855-263-2727 (507-629-8232) with your machine information. We look forward to hearing from you!

Another way would be to simply watch the forum until someone comes along who is in a desperate situation and needs a machine. If you aren't on the forum often enough at that time, and I can think of many reasons why you might not be, you could ask a couple regulars to keep an eye out for you.

[Slinky]

Thanks for sharing that info, Otter!!

[Starlette]

Thank you VERY MUCH all *humbly stated* for giving me ideas.

I'm going to bookmark this thread so when the time comes that a decision needs to be be made about his cpap, I'll know I now have options to offer Mom.

Again thank you.
Starlette

[DoriC]

Sending my prayers to you and your family. I know how hard this is for you so take care of yourself.

[BlackSpinner]

A compassionate hug for you. I know how difficult this is, to see a parent go down hill like that.

[Ms Piggy]

sorry to hear your news, that's tough for all of you. My best wishes.

[chunkyfrog]

Sorry to hear about your Dad.
Even though it happens to everyone; it's still the hardest thing.
{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}

[fireman38355]

Prayers from our house to yours during this difficult time.

Jeff

[Muse-Inc]

Good suggestions! This is such a stressful thing to deal with, it's inevitable that the end arrives for all of us at some point, but it's never easy to deal with...you have my sympathy. Remember to take care of yourself!

[JayC]

Sending a thought of gentle healing support and strength to you all through this difficult time...

[archangle]

Gee, this sort of sounds bad, but it can be a sore subject.

Let mom ask or indicate that she's interested in cleaning house before saying anything about getting rid of stuff. It could easily come off as an intrusion. There could easily be some resentment about you wanting to "get rid of him" and being pushy.

When mom died, dad kept a lot of her stuff around for a long time. I think there was some comfort in having her stuff around. She died 10 years before he did, and I still found drawers full of her stuff that was absolute junk. Hair pins, hair curlers, curling irons that didn't work, fabric scraps, etc.

He took many months before he could deal with getting rid of the clothes from her closet. I could easily see someone being unwilling to remove the CPAP and hoses from the other side of the bed for a long time after the spouse dies.

Heck, I've got some of his and her junk stored in my house that I'll probably never use, but can't make myself throw away.