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MARTHA'S LAST MILE
ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Martha's Last Mile is a series we're doing with a local woman who has Stage Four Breast Cancer.
Martha Russell invited us to document her end-of-life journey.
This morning -- we are in her home for a visit from her Covenant Hospice nurse.
Kathryn Daniel continues Martha's Last Mile.
Give Martha good days -- that is Nurse Charlotte Bennett's' goal.
Right now -- her patient is comfortable and in good spirits.
((Charlotte Bennett/Covenant Hospice Nurse; "Today, in my opinion, she's having a very good day."))
Martha says most folks misunderstand Hospices' role...
((Martha Russell; "When they hear that word "Hospice", it's like there's no hope, everything's over with. First nurse that came to me said, "We're Hospice, we're here to give you quality of life."))
For two years -- Martha had lived with excruciating pain...Doctors could not find out why.
((Martha Russell; "Finally there was an answer of what was wrong, finally I knew the cancer was there and finally I could die. I was relieved that they knew what was going on."))
Bennett's first step -- manage Martha's considerable pain.
((Martha Russell; "They'd say, "What kind of pain are you having". I'd go, pain, pain is pain."))
But it's not. Nerve, bone and soft tissue pain are all different...In intensity and treatment.
Bennett monitors Martha's pain meds.
Martha says some patients resist narcotic pain management...but not her...
((Martha Russell; "As long as I can know what's going on and be comfortable and be aware, keep me like that, when I get to where I ain't comfortable and I don't want to feel everything, give me some dope honey."))
((Martha Russell; "The quality of my life probably 80% more than it would've been."))
She actually feels like getting up, going out and visiting friends...And on days, she doesn't, she has Russell.
((Martha Russell; "Put her arm around me and let me cry, so for that day, Charlotte's job was just to love me."))
((Charlotte Russell; "Talk, listen, mostly, that's one of our big jobs is being able to listen."))
Martha says she has no regrets about stopping cancer treatment...Mostly because of Hospice's help...for nine months now they've helped make her comfortable -- and more at peace.
((Martha Russell; "Who wants to live to be in misery? With no hope? And just quote, live to die?" I'm not just gonna live to die, I"m going to live to live."))
Kathryn Daniel, Channel Three News.
Next week, we'll meet Martha's two caregivers.
Her two closest friends from different times of her life have banded together to take care of her around the clock.
