My mother (60) has had bad complications with her uncontrolled diabetes for about two years, now. It started in 2021 when she had her toes on her right foot amputated, then her toes on her left needed amputated due to non-healing ulcer. Earlier this year, she needed a BKA on her right leg because she refused to properly care for her foot, and the infection then returned and spread up her leg. Now, several months later, she’s having complications with her left leg.
A doctor called me yesterday afternoon to let me know she has necrotizing fasciitis on her left leg that is extending all the way up her thigh, and he fears she might need an above-the-knee amputation on the left leg.
When my mother had her other amputation earlier this year, she told me she never wanted another one; she just wanted to let the next infection kill her. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her since her admission to the hospital (they said she’s been really “out of it” as one could imagine), but I would believe her thoughts are the same. She’s been severely depressed for several years and has seem to given up on life. I convinced her to get the last amputation, but I fear I did the wrong thing because she’s just been miserable ever since.
Now that it’s likely she’s facing another amputation that she’s likely going to refuse, what should I plan on doing? Is hospice care the way to go? Who sets that up? The hospital she’s in right now? I just feel at a loss and don’t know what to do at this point.