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One ICU nurse and a pulmonary doctor both told me he'd never live, but even if he did he'd never get off a ventilator and would never walk again. When he was extubated and walking, we ran into that doctor at the hospital and I reminded him of his dire prognosis. He joked about it rather than admitting how wrong he was.
Dad was on a ventilator for 6 months, having initially been intubated then trached after about a week or so because of the potential damage a ventilator can cause. I think the possibility of a trach indicates that the doctor is thinking of a longer term weaning, but that doesn't necessary mean that the situation is dire enough to make a more drastic decision.
Over the long period of being trached, my father lost total ability to swallow and had to be weaned not only from the ventilator but had to learn how to swallow w/o frank aspiration. That process took several months.
What might be suggested by the medical team is a placement in what's known as a long term care hospital; it's a hospital but the focus is on patients who need a level of care higher than a SNF can provide. Select Speciality was the hospital we chose.
When you wrote that the doctor mentioned a possible tube, I assume you're referring to a stomach tube by which your mother could receive nutrition? It actually sounds worse than it is and would provide her with enough nutrition to stabilize as she weans from the vent.
I assume that the sedation administered is keeping her more or less unconscious and she's not able to communicate her feelings now?
One thing I did when my father was at his worst was to play music for him (CD player) and sing his favorite hymns. I watched the BIS monitor while I did that and noticed an increase in brain functions. Even one of the ICU nurses said he was responding to the music.
I read sometime ago that Israeli doctors used music to bring patients out of anesthesia after surgery. I've seen enough people respond to music to have a strong belief that it can be very, very helpful.
Good luck, and be sure to take some time out to do something other than focus on this issue as you'll be able to think clearer and more comfortably with some good rest and relaxtion for yourself.