Question: My 79 year old mother-in-law is currently on mechanical ventilation after complications from chemotherapy and other cancer treatment. She has been on mechanical ventilation since June 17 (so today is day 10). Her doctors cannot figure out what is really wrong with her, but it appears to be some kind of lung damage - maybe lung toxicity. My question is what are the chances of her being able to breathe on her own? My husband is convinced she will recover, but from what I've read, it will be difficult to get her off the mechanical ventilation. I am wondering how long we have to live like this waiting? I'm concerned that the doctors are just doing this test and that test and that ultimately, she has no hope. I'm skeptical of the entire process


Here is some additional information. Going into the hospital, she was generally not very healthy. Very overweight, etc. Although she is only 79, she looks much older and is probably in worse health than most 79 year olds. She has never smoked. My husband is at the hospital every day all day. They are constantly running tests on her. I think they tried weening, but didn't work. To be very honest here, I just want to know one way or another if she's going to recover or not. Our lives are turned upside down because of this. My husband is not available to work or take care of the kids while this is going on. I would like to know if the doctors are doing this to just go through the motions or if she really has a chance of breathing on her own. Thank you

Thank you. Your response is very helpful. Can she go straight from mechanical ventilation to the oxygen cylinder therapy? Or does she need to reach a certain level of breathing on her own first? I am assuming she is not intubated for oxygen cylinder therapy. I am not looking for "hopeful" type of answers. I would prefer to know the realistic situation. She has been on mechanical ventilation since June 17 and she is almost 80 years old. I would prefer to know that she probably won't make it. So if she cannot be weaned off mechanical ventilation, can we just stop the mechanical ventilation and let her pass? She can't be on mechanical ventilation forever, can she? It's day 10 and I feel that it's too long and a waste.