I Found Out On Wed That My Mom Was Diagnosised With Stage 3 Lung Cancer In October Of 2004 But My Mom Didnt Tell Anyone..... Im Sorry Let Me Start From Jump My Mom Was Brought To The Er Late Night 5/20/05 Or Early On The 21st Of May Due To Breathing Problems When The Examined Her They Found Out She Had About 2 Litters Of Fluid Around Her Lungs And Heart They Took Her In To Emergency Surgery To Put A Cath In Her To Drain It She Has Been On Life Supprot Since Now I Spoke To The Dr On 5/25/05 I Guessed It Was Bad Because The Nurse (they Are Real Jerks At Grossmont Hospital) Actually Called The Dr For Me Without Me Asking Well I Got On The Phone And Thats When He Asked My To Sign A Dnr (do Not Resesitate) Order On Her And Also Explained That My Mom Is Vent Dependent Basically They Have Been Trying To Ween Her From The Vent But She Can Only Last 5 Mins On Her Own Till She Stops Breathing He Explaiend That If I Sign The Dnr That Does Not Mean They Will Take Her Off The Ven....but If I Sign It And They Continue To Try To Ween Her Off Of It She Will Die Cuz She Cant Breathe Without It The Dr Went On To Explain How She Was Diagnosis Last Year Oct With Lung Cancer And At That Time She Was Terminal And Due To Im Her Only Child I Have To Fill Out Paper Work And Make Discisions Im Scared And I Dont Know What To Do My Aunt And Uncle Are Also Helping With The Dicision But I Hat This And I Would Not Have Anyone Else Go Through This I Know My Feelings And Thoughts About Life Support And I Know I Wouldnt Want To Be On It For More Then 2 Weeks If I Have No Chance Of Surviving But My Selfish Side Is Showing Through I Only Met My Mom 2 Yrs Ago Im 20 Now I Met Her When I Was 18 She Gave Me Up To My Grandparents When I Was 12 Days Old Iv Forgiven Her I Know It Was For The Best But Why Is God Wanting Her Now I Have A 9 Month Old Daughter That Adores My Mother And My Mom Loves Her Grandbaby Back I Hate Having To Make This Dicision If I Dont Do It She Suffers Which I Dont Want Her To But If I Do, Do It My Family Suffers Please Give Me Advise I Need To Make The Disicion I Dont Want To Burden Another Family Member With It But I Dont Like This Feeling Some People Like The Feeling Of Playing God I Hat It I Feel Like Im The Woman That Throws The Swich On The Guy In The Electric Chair But Without The Mask

I am so sorry you are faced with such a difficult decision. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please please look into all the legal stuff before you sign anything. There is alot more involved then just signing a paper. There has to be power of attorney and stuff. I am sorry it is not my place or expertise to tell you. I am just trying to help you as I just very recently went through a similar situation. It still won't help make your decision any easier, but it is best to look into the legal stuff first. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your little one.
God Bless

There is a reason that we have a place in peoples hearts, everyone in our lives is part of the intricate web that we inhabitat... you have been given this very difficult choice because only you can make it. You must trust yourself that the decision that you make will be the only one you could have made... what it is is unimportant, just know that is was right, and any other option was not acceptable to you.
Blessings to you and all your family - D

I was raised by my grandparents too. I gradually got to know my mom in my teens. She recently died of uterine cancer, after a painful battle. From what you have said, it sounds like the doctors are telling you that your mom is in the process of dying. Before making the decision, ask the doctors to be clear about what her chances are of survival. I know when my mom was lingering, towards the end, she did not want to be put on any ventilator. For weeks, we sustained her with an IV, because she couldn't eat anymore, so, in a way, we were postponing the inevitable. Her pain was so severe. Get the facts. Talk to your relatives. Often, through hospice, there are counselors you can talk to about making such difficult decisions. If a hospice counselor is available, which is often free, try to talk to one. They are very familiar with such trauma. With much empathy....