I should have gotten him LIFE ALERT and he could have pressed it and been saved. He was 76 years old. He had several health problems including diabetes (controlled), hypertension (controlled), stage 4 kidney disease, and atrial fibrillation (controlled by digoxin). He had two strokes in the past, the last being 12 years ago, which paralyzed his left side, but he got some of it back and could walk with a cane. He also had a mild heart attack about 15 years ago, which was treated with balloon angioplasty. I wanted him to enjoy his final years, so I let him drive, and do his own things, etc. I am VERY REGRETFUL that I did not get him LIFE ALERT (or another similar product). I realize that sometimes when people have a heart attack, they do not know it, and cannot press the button, but I am still very regretful over this…..I don’t know how I am ever going to forgive myself for this…..please help!
Thank you everybody, you are very helpful….God Bless You all….
Just for the record, he was found on the kitchen floor in the sitting position (on his bottom), with his knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and his head slumped down to his chest. One arm had an abrasion on it on the upper side of the forearm, as if he may have nicked it against the table or chair that he was near….
I completely understand that you are feeling guilty but you have to bear in mind that your father was a sick man with many other medical problems. His quality of life would be decreasing pretty rapidly at this stage anyway and it is best that he went quickly instead of being kept alive artificially, in pain and in hospital away from everything he knows. It was his time and instead of wallowing in guilt, you should work on preserving the memories you have of him.
Atrial Fibrillation
Conditions and Treatments
its not your fault, its nobodies fault. everyone had their time to go, and i guess it just happened to be that time for your father
it must hurt alot, but time will lift the weight off your shoudlers. 76, thats pretty good :0) and im sure he lived his life to his fullest. dont let yourself think it was your fault. one pesron leaves your life, another one will enter it. life goes on, and its no good to dwell on what might have been
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hm i think that u shouldent have regret because it probly was his time to go if it dint happen when he was alone u could of bin there but sometimes the soul is tired and ur body is beat and he could of gone relived that there not more pain even if he had life alert its could work but who knows so dont regret that it was ur fault right know u might regret ur self but god or ur father will give u a sing that u should not regret the happening
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I completely understand that you are feeling guilty but you have to bear in mind that your father was a sick man with many other medical problems. His quality of life would be decreasing pretty rapidly at this stage anyway and it is best that he went quickly instead of being kept alive artificially, in pain and in hospital away from everything he knows. It was his time and instead of wallowing in guilt, you should work on preserving the memories you have of him.
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Registered Nurse
Sheri, honey, Life Alert would not have saved him. Please don’t blame yourself for something that would not help him anyway. I hope that with some time you will start feeling better soon.
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You are not responsible for your father’s death.
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I’m so sorry for your loss. Try not to beat yourself up with guilt. It is not for certain that the Life Alert would have saved his life. He had several health problems not in his favor. Many times diabetics have no idea they are having a heart attack. They don’t get the classic symptoms so they wait until it’s often too late. God Bless.
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Don’t blame yourself It’s part of getting old. I’m now 65 and have congestive heart failure, Diabetes, etc. 8 years ago had quad by-pass surgery. and one of these will kill me and there’s nothing I can do about it. My father had the same thing and he died in his sleep he couldn’t push the button if he wanted to. Look at all the things wrong with your dad. sudden heart attack means you drop dead no time to do anything. hate to bust your bubble but nothing sudden about it it was coming for a long time and it was his time. I been alive the last 8 years and this will kill me it could be tomorrow of five years. Life alert button or not when the heart gives out it’s over. Stop beating yourself up there isn’t a damn thing you could have done. I know and he knows it. Any damn one of those problems could have killed him. I’m in the same boat, That’s life I’m a retired stagehand and worked many shows in Vegas maybe he can help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtE3Gg_x4Ls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6Lp4w8wyy0
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I am so sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to you and your family. It sounds like he lived a long life, and you let him live it as normal as possible considering the health issues he had to deal with, but I am sure he appreciated that fact. Regardless if he had life alert, or not….God was ready to take him home. Your father would NOT want you to live your life with regret. You wouldn’t want your children to feel that way if something happened to you. You let him live his life here on Earth as normal as possible, and I am sure he was very thankful for that! God Bless you!
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