Sorry for your loss @JohnH , it’s never easy.
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Glad you were able to be there. Condolences,
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Yes and especially to your wife, but the way it happened with your foresight, it wouldn’t have been entirely out of place in the other, related, thread.
I tend to look on the bright side which is why my 2nd thought for Fran was that she went in her sleep in the middle of the night, I wish no more than that for myself.
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Condolences @JohnH it isn’t ever easy to deal with I think but knowing the circs are better than they might have been does help, at least that’s what I found last month when my mother died.
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Sincere condolences John
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Yes me too, my Mum died 30 years ago today. Fran nursed her through her final days, she thought more of my Mum than she did her own, and it was reciprocated. 
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Absolutely, that’s the best way - my Dad popped off sitting in his armchair (heart attack) - pretty quick to the best of my knowledge.
My ex-partner’s dad on the other hand spent months in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth connected to machines before he passed - that was harrowing for all concerned.
We had quite a long chat about resuscitation as my brother-in-law wanted “everything possible” to be done to keep the old fella alive. He had to have a bit of a reality check that it’s not like the movies where they pull out the paddles, bring the patient back then it’s tea and biscuits all round. Pretty much the best case scenario was that, if he was brought back, he was still spending the remainder of his life in hospital and not in a particularly pleasant condition.
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This is where a DNR can be useful. Provided, at least in the UK, you avoid calling an ambulance/dialling 999 that could result in one, as apparently ambulance staff will ignore them.
Unless like my mother you have it out in view on bedside table.
It’s called a ReSPECT form these days
My OH grandma died on the toilet upstairs at 94. The undertakers had a hell of a job getting her out of the tiny bathroom and down the stairs that MIL had to go next door not to see it taking place as she was fairly big.
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Just over a year ago, our next-door neighbour rattled on the front door and dragged me to her bedroom whilst getting advice from first responders on a phone clamped to her ear. She gave me instruction whilst I performed a Vinnie Jones on her husband. Four pompiers arrived under blue lights 5 minutes later, after another five minutes a resuscitation team of four arrived also under blue lights, and 5 minutes later a doctor and three nurses arrived also in an emergency vehicle.
Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead so then a pair of undertakers arrived. In the space of three hours from the first knock on our door, his funeral had been arranged for later in the week.
We live in a stretch of chemin with 7 houses. Two husbands have died in the last two years and another two are very close to dying. The frightening thought is that I am the oldest person in that stretch. I know it sounds trite but every morning I look out at the Pyrenees and surrounding countryside and count my blessings.
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It’s not fun to watch at all.
Most folks don’t realise that CPR done right can crack ribs in adults and you have to be super careful with kids.
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I’m ashamed to say, first aid is one of many areas of knowledge in which I am sadly lacking. We were told to get him off the soft bed and lay him on his back on the floor then not be afraid to use too much pressure. It was a terrifying experience.
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Perhaps €20 would be well spent here
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That’s a great idea. Never too old to learn. Only yesterday I was asked to help out our advanced Alzheimer’s next-door neighbour (on the other side) be lifted up from the floor. Having no idea about technique, it was a bit of a struggle. Thanks for the info.
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I did mine over 2 afternoons in the last month at school. Good to have some of the French terms as well as a refresher! Even as a nurse / midwife we were required to do it every couple of years.
I couldn’t get any information from the site - kept saying “Aucune Information” even when I put in the name of a town in their list… Wonder if it’s my browser? I was thinking it was a good idea to have at least one person in our Association who has done the course…
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I have the same problem Angela. Even if I put in Toulouse rather than our rural location and expand the available time to about 1 month, which seems t be the maximum you can select, it says nothing available.