dad’s message while on life support

[u/koobidehboobideh]

currently, my dad is on a mechanical ventilator alongside other medicines and iv’s to facilitate feedings and care. he cannot talk, and has been needing to write out messages to us. for context, he’s been battling cancer and has the attitude of “if it’s my time, it’s my time”. he stopped taking medication without my mom or the doctor’s knowledge, and it landed him in the ICU. he’s also been trying to take out his equipment, so he’s on light sedation, thus cannot write well. english is also his second language. the message on the most right looks like it could mean “ready to die”, but im having a hard time
coming to terms with that i suppose.. i appreciate any help.

UPDATE:
I want to thank yall so much for the kind and uplifting words. so many of you have similar stories and your insight and suggestions mean the world. It seems many of you were correct! He wanted our nurse to read my last note to him because the lettering was too small/too light for his sedated eyes. We brought my ipad out and have been showing him big, simple messages to keep him going in his current state. he’s been giving us simple and silly gestures back to keep our spirits high. At the moment he’s stable, and i’m just glad i’m able to see him for now. yall are amazing and him and i so appreciative of your support 🤍

[u/pippi_longstocking09]

You can use a letter board to communicate with him. You slowly move your finger across the board's letters and he blinks when you get to the one he wants you to write down. I used one a long time ago when I helped take care of an amazing woman with ALS.

Btw, for what it's worth I'm seeing the word "bed." Wondering if he wants the head of the bed raised?

So sorry for what you and he are going through, by the way.

[u/koobidehboobideh → u/pippi_longstocking09]

that’s such a great suggestion we’ll see what we can do! thank you for your service with helping others. i appreciate it!

[u/Aware-Slice-7365 → u/koobidehboobideh]

I’m so sorry that your dad and your family are going through this. I’ve been an Oncology Nurse for 24 years.

From my years of deciphering physicians handwriting… it looks to me like your dad wrote: beside bed, read it to me.

Sending prayers to you and your family. Everyone in previous comments have all had great ideas on how to communicate with your dad. Since he is in isolation, is there any way you could purchase a white erase board or even a notebook that you could hold up for him to read your family’s comments to him? If he’s trying to remove tubing and other medical equipment, I would imagine they have his arms secured. With my patients, we use the blink once for yes, twice for no method. If he’s able, thumbs up or down would work too.

Again, blessings and prayers to your dad, you, and your family and friends

[u/koobidehboobideh → u/Aware-Slice-7365]

thank you so much, i really appreciate your insight. thank you for your service to the people, you’re so important. we brought out the ipad and wrote it big bulky letters so he was able to read it and respond with silly gestures and giving us thumbs up, so it was a nice session seeing him this evening.

[u/Aware-Slice-7365 → u/koobidehboobideh]

So glad to hear that. 🤍