Tom Nielson  has late-stage prostate cancer with secondary tumours in his lungs and brain. He is currently a resident in a retirement village where he lives in a single room.

72-year-old Tom Nielson  has late-stage prostate cancer with secondary tumours in his lungs and brain. He is currently a resident in a retirement village where he lives in a single room.

Tom is a retired airline pilot and prior to developing cancer, was relatively healthy enjoying retirement with his wife Connie on their large lifestyle block out of town. They enjoyed being together out in the garden and spending time with their many friends in the local area. Tom was a smoker (gave up 5 years ago after smoking for 45 years), always enjoyed a few drinks on a Friday in the local pub and had also taken up golf. Connie continues to live in the family home 30 km out of town, and visits her husband as often as possible.

Tom and Connie have two daughters. Sarah aged 45, a land agent who lives 100 km away in a small town and Beatrice, aged 41, a lawyer who lives nearby. Both are very busy with their adolescent children and their careers. Tom and Connie also have a son who they no longer have any contact with, after a big argument 10 years ago. He lives in Australia.

Over the last week or two, Tom has become more confused, often forgetting where he is and who staff and family members are. He has been having episodes of agitation and tearfulness and is often reporting pain despite receiving regular pain medication. And while his appetite has been small, he has been managing a little of the small high protein meals provided by the facility.

After a visit with Tom one day, Connie reports that he is refusing to eat and drink, choosing instead to sleep. She also mentions that his breathing seems shallow and she is concerned that he feels cold to touch. She asks for a warm blanket for her husband as she thinks he may be “coming down with something”