Changes
Changes. That’s how the hospice nurse yesterday referred to Sam’s steep decline. He’s vomiting more. His tremors lasted throughout an entire day. He’s running a fever. There’s blood in his urine. His lungs sound junky. He hasn’t been awake in over thirty-six hours. His heart rate has increased. His breathing is shallow. He doesn’t even have the strength to hold my hand anymore.
Changes is not a devastating enough word.