A Daughter, Her Mother, and a Helpless Reality in the ICU

During ICU rounds, many things are overheard, but some stay deeply in the heart...

A woman aged around 40-45 sits awake day and night in the ICU for her mother, who is over 75 years old.

The mother suffered a massive stroke/paralysis attack. After 7-8 days, improvement is limited.

The expenses keep increasing.

The daughter says, "I want to do everything for my mother till the very end, doctor..."

But at home, there is a financial reality.

The husband or other family members question the outcome: "How many days in ICU? How much will it cost?"

At that moment, without words, what reflects in her eyes says a lot – The feeling of wanting to spend on her mother but being unable to do so is deeper than tears falling.

This is not just a clinical case, It is a flashback of the mother’s life, her struggles, and now her helpless state in the ICU.

The daughter looks at me. She wants an answer, she wants hope... but that too is limited.

"It’s not easy for a daughter. It’s not easy for a doctor either."

Have you ever experienced this? Have you felt this helplessness in caring for your mother in her final days?

Dr Ravindra L. Kulkarni, MD, DNB, FSCAI (Cardiology) Just For Hearts