From the November 15th entry in the journal we kept for changes in my father’s health:

1:30 AM – I turned him on his back to help the bed sores. I counted his respirations. Only 13 per minute. His feet are still cold despite it being 75 degrees in the room.

2:20 AM – The night nurse came in to give him his Ativan. I asked for Morphine as well since his breathing is very rough. She agreed. I counted 16 respirations.

3:39 AM – The night nurse came in for a bed check. Dry. 17 respirations. Moving his mouth as he breaths. I haven’t seen him move his mouth for days. His feet are still cold.

4:40 AM – His breathing is very short. 13 respirations. Feet still cold.

5:00 AM – The night nurse came in for a bed check. Changed his diaper and moved him. I used the sponge on a stick to wet his lips and the inside of his mouth. Only 9 respirations.

5:18 AM – Breathing is very short. I tried counting his respirations but only got to 6 and then he stopped breathing. He is dead.

I walked a total of 3.79 miles today.