Whilst at work, got a call. My uncle is in hospital, unwell and may die in the next few days. He's had his fair share of ups and downs. He once crashed the car, whilst he suffered a fit. Wife and baby girl in the car. Diagnosed with epilepsy after further seizures, he was unable to work as a mechanic and was off work for a long time. The family struggled financially. Health issues meant they struggled to have another child but managed to conceive a son who's now five. Further issues with health/lack of work meant he became addicted to alcohol but managed to give it up. That was almost a year ago.

Up until last weekend, he was fine. Over the weekend he became unwell. He put it down to a viral illness and decided to see how he went. On Tuesday, he was so unwell he was sent to the hospital to have his bloods taken. They were so deranged that they kept him in. During his stay, he was diagnosed with hepato-renal failure (unknown cause at this stage) started bleeding from his stomach and now, inevitably, caught pneumonia. If his kidneys pack up, he will die within the next few days. He might not get to see his five year old son (who is oblivious to everything) grow up. He might not see his teenage daughter develop into adulthood. He's not even reached 45 years of age.

Not sure why I'm posting but feels better to post it. I've had to be the strong one in all of this and that's difficult to do when your aunt is begging for you to do something to save him. Especially when it's because I'm a doctor, everyone expects you to know what's going to happen and even I know the team looking after him can't do more than anything that's already been done.

Guess it makes me appreciate life that bit more and makes my crap day pale in comparison.

Lordy - that doesn’t sound at all good. My thoughts are with you - keep strong.

Nothing to do but wait and see what happens at the moment, nothing you can do, just trust in the doctors, I hope it works out for the best and he recovers.

That's really sad, especially bearing in mind the children. Hope he makes a recovery.

Our thoughts are with you and your family. I hope it goes the best way possible for everyone.

Sad news.

I hope he makes a full and lasting recovery.

Can't really add anything other than what's already been said.

Thanks for the kind words. He's not deteriorated but by the same token he's not really improved. Still touch and go. Everyone's on tenterhooks.

That's terrible, 45 is no age to have serious health problems like that. I really feel for his wife and kids (and you of course). Hoping things improve for him soon.

Went to see him again yesterday and he seemed to have perked up but still nowhere near out of the woods. From my own experience from working with people in this situation, he could improve and he could deteriorate and die. Fingers crossed that he improves.

Spoke to the consultant. He's deteriorated overnight. He will die within the next few days, probably 48 hours if that. We were both surprised that he has been this bad so recently and not seen anyone. People in a similar situation normally go in/out of hospital three or four times over a year or so before dying. She used the word tragic and I agree. Frikkin tragedy.

My thoughts are with my aunt and her family. We will visit tomorrow and work has been accommodating with me leavin at short notice. Can't help but think I'd be shafted if I was still working in hospital and have been grateful to be able to see him a few times.

Oh boy.
Really sorry to hear it mate, I hope he's comfortable.

This sort of thing really puts things into perspective

So have all the family been visiting in the knowledge that he has days to live? When my uncle was dying we were not allowed to go in again because it would have tipped him off that he was dying. So just a few family not to give him a clue what was up.


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