E009: Why I Didn't Give the Hospital Her DNR

The Wicked Daughter - Caring For Your Aging Parents, One Meltdown at a Time · Aug 4, 2026 · 14m

When my mom was admitted to the hospital after being hit by a car, I made a decision that would weigh heavily on me for weeks.

I didn't give the hospital her Do Not Resuscitate order.

It wasn't because I didn't know her wishes.

I did.

It wasn't because I wasn't willing to honor them.

I was.

I believed this accident wasn't the situation she had envisioned when she made that decision. She had been living independently, staying active, and enjoying life. I believed she deserved every reasonable chance to recover.

Then, her cardiologist looked at me and quietly asked, "You know her wishes, don't…