Robyn,
Please accept our thoughts and feelings for the passing of your
relative. The circle of life. Grace and respect in death as it is
with birth and life.
May we all meet and share our lives.
With love
--- Robyn Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Seems this message didn't get through to the List.
> Trying again. Thanks
> Annie for letting me know.
>
> Hi there ozlisters
>
> Just wanted to let you know that I have returned to
> the space I left about 3
> months ago. I have had the wonderful privilege of
> helping my
> daughter-in-law Emi and my son Mark to make Emi's
> dad's passing as pain
> free,comfortable and as peaceful as could be.
>
> Mitsuaki came to Australia with his wife Tomiko
> almost 3 months ago. His
> plan was do be able to die at home, painfree with
> his family and myself
> helping him. To die in Japan this way was not
> possible. Emi and Mark live
> just 10 minutes walk away from me. Before his
> arrival we planned together
> what we thought would make living the way he wanted.
> My two grandsons
> Joshua and Kai both born at home (Josh in Japan and
> Kai in Melbourne) were
> part of the team. Emi's sister Yuka who lives in
> Sydney flew came down on
> several occasions to help. Yuka is pregnant and her
> baby is due in
> September.
>
> Mitsuaki was very tired and sick after the flight
> from Japan. Tomiko was by
> his side the whole time, she had been caring for him
> at home in Kofu until
> she reached a point where it was all to much for her
> to continue. He had
> some medical assessment and a few oncology
> treatments at St Vincent's
> Hospital, the main purpose was to alleviate the pain
> of the pancreatic
> cancer which now had progressed to secondaries of
> the liver. This was
> effective for the time it needed to be. The major
> part of his care was
> nursing care at home. Personalised medical care was
> provided by Peter Lucas
> (most of you will know Peter), he is the most
> important medical practitioner
> in Melbourne who cares for and supports women who
> choose to birth at home.
> So the team was perfect for what Mitsuaki had asked
> for.
>
> There is another story of course, but don't want to
> dampen the spirit of
> Mitsuaki's experience with such a negative
> experience in this space. Will
> tell this story later if you want to hear it, about
> a local GP who wouldn't
> attend the home and told my son that Mitsuaki had to
> go to hospital to die.
>
> His health gradually deteriorated until it became
> full time nursing care.
> His wife Tomiko provided the majority of his care
> with us helping her.
> Peter visited once a week (about 1:30 minutes drive
> return for him) more if
> we requested. Mitsuaki had a vitamin infusion in 1
> litre of Hartmann's
> solution about twice a week at his request. He had
> been having similar
> treatment at a local clinic in Japan and wanted this
> to continue. His blood
> tests remained quite stable till his death and we
> think that this treatment
> contributed to his comfort. Hospice care was
> available if we needed the
> service. He was kept pain free till the last 24
> hours with the help of oral
> morphia and then subcutaneous infusion for the last
> night.
>
> Mitsuaki died peacefully in his own bed at 10 am on
> Thursday 5th August.
> His wife, two daughters, my son Mark, myself and Kai
> were with him. Kai is
> 4 years old and he was wonderful, kept our spirits
> alive and knew exactly
> what was happening in his own way.
>
> After we had all said farewell I was able to help
> Tomiko, Emi and Yuka
> prepare him for his resting place. They washed and
> dressed him and kept him
> at home in his bed till about 6pm that evening.
> This gave Joshua time after
> school to say goodbye. Joshi wondered why we hadn't
> "pumped him with all
> the air that was around us". I took him by the hand
> and told him that when
> we die our heart stops beating, when that happens we
> can no longer breathe
> with our lungs and that is why we couldn't "pump
> air" into his lungs. He
> was very accepting of this and responded by touching
> and saying goodbye.
> Joshi also asked to have a look at his eyes and we
> were able to do this
> without any fuss. He comprehended that our pupils
> get large when we die.
>
> Peter Lucas in a very loving and caring way
> completed the legal process of
> ensuring death and doing the necessary paperwork.
> He also said goodbye to
> Mitsuaki in a very tender and compassionate way.
>
> We prepared for the committal at home. Why take the
> farewell somewhere else
> when his wishes were to be at home? Tomiko filled
> the house with bright
> coloured flowers and requested his body to be
> covered with flower heads.
> His favourite classical music played in the
> background. The celebrant
> planned a very natural committal with a verse that
> was translated for two of
> Mitsuaki's high school friends who arrived just
> after his passing. He left
> the home in the care of the funeral directors who
> walked slowly with the
> Hurse until they were out of site. The children
> participated in the
> funeral, placed flowers as requested by Tomiko into
> the open coffin, then
> each of us placed a flower before the coffin was
> closed. Such cherished
> memories.
>
> He asked for his ashes to be placed in several of
> the special places he had
> visited in his life. Florence, Canada, Japan,
> Australia. Tomiko in time
> will fulfil these wishes.
>
> In the time of Mitsuaki's illness in Australia I was
> able to help three
> women birth their baby's at home. He was always
> interested in what I do,
> because of his experience with Joshi and Kai being
> born at home.
> Robyn Thompson *Independent Midwife
> Melbourne Midwifery
> Pregnancy, Birth & Breastfeeding Service
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.melbmidwifery.com.au
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Robyn Thompson *Independent Midwife
> Melbourne Midwifery
> Pregnancy, Birth & Breastfeeding Service
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.melbmidwifery.com.au
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
===
>From Cathy Bock and Nigel Duncan.
at
BIRTHING HANDS (Homebirth, ante/post natal care and hospital support)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
0414 886827 or 0414 554840
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