Duffy’s Story

Site created on June 7, 2019

On Weds June 5 th Duffy was taken by ambulance to Burnett Medical Center in Grantsburg with heart,  liver and kidney failure. He also has a blood clot on his heart. He was then transported to Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis. On the night of the 5 th we were told that we needed to decide if we wanted invasive, painful lifesaving procedures to try to fix him, or comfort care to let him go peacefully and painlessly. 
Maybe selfishly,  even though he's always told us he didn't want to be poked and prodded and hooked up,  we couldn't let him go.  We bought time to get more information.  It was the only decision at the time.  And it was the right one. Weds night he was started on dialysis. It was a life or death decision. 
 On Thursday he woke up long enough to tell us that he didn't want to die.  Over and over again.  So we fight.  It will be the biggest fight of his life. 


Thursday night the nurse asked him to open his eyes and he shook his head no.  Nice to see a little bit of our Duffy. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Annie Fletcher

By the grace of God, this will be my last post. 
I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this.  A week ago today we were told to make a decision and prepare for the worst.  It was a horrible flashback to 1999 and our mom. Today,  Duffy was sitting up in his chair joking around with Sarah and I. OT and PT cleared him, so he needs no transitional care.  He could be sent home as early as Friday.  He'll have to be watched close, of course,  and he'll have to try very hard to adapt to a new healthier way of living.  But I'm not worried. (Much)
He laughed in death's face and pulled through.  I think he will continue to do so. 
To me,  this is nothing short of a miracle. 
The Fletcher family's heartfelt thanks to you all for your prayers.  <3

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