The current attending physician (they change weekly) thinks there is a good chance Dad's heart will give out before we get around to taking him off the ventilator. The doctor said, "It'll happen quickly and there'll be no warning. But I think you guys are mostly prepared." I nodded that we were, although I don't know what "prepared" could possibly mean.

I've been watching his monitors and his heart rate commonly drops to 31 beats/minute. I'm no cardiologist, but that seems a little low. As part of "comfort measures" they have stopped giving him blood thinners and heart medication.

Chatting with the nurse on my way out last night she asked if we were staying with him all the time. I explained that Shannon and I spend about 12 hours a day with him on shifts. The nurse said, "That's good. Your dad needs you a lot right now." I responded that we need him a lot right now too. I think I almost made her cry.