Friday, February 28th, 2003
Status is decidedly quo
Sorry I haven't put up an earlier update today, folks. There's really no news to report, though; Dad slept well last night, and has rested well today, and no changes have been made to his medication, diet, or elseways. One more thing hasn't changed—we still covet all your prayers.
Posted at 8:30 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, February 27th, 2003
Dad walks again, and again
Dad is doing well today. He got up and walked to the bathroom this morning, and though Mom was ready to assist, he needed no help to get there and back. He also made it on his own once yesterday afternoon. It seems that his strength is returning, albeit slowly, and we're praying that it continues.
I read him the latest emails that have come to johnny@tonyc.com, and he enjoyed them immensely, though he was ready to take a nap when we were done. He's thinking quite clearly and remembering things better, but he still tires very easily.
That's all for now—Please continue to keep Dad in your prayers!
Posted at 12:43 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday, February 26th, 2003
More opinions, more visits, and a clarification
Mom talked to Pat Bard, the Hospice social worker, this morning. Mom and Dad told her about their meeting with Dr. Misulis and his impression that Dad was getting better. Pat told Mom that that assessment was at odds with "another consensus" of several other doctors working with Dad's case, who based their opinions on several other factors in Dad's health. Their opinion, according to Pat, was that we should "be prepared," and that it might happen any time.
Marty, a hospice nurse, came in this afternoon and talked to Dad for about an hour about a number of things, including the importance of letting Mom and other people take responsibility for some things, and for him to concentrate on the important things, which at this point are few and easily managed. She emphasized that he would likely never return to the level that he was at before all this happened, and that if he were setting goals for himself, he should set them at a reasonably low level, and then set higher goals once he'd achieved the previous ones. Dad finally told her that he was too tired to continue, and she said that part of the reason for talking to him was to gauge his ability to carry on a long and lucid conversation, and that he had done very well.
On a side note, if you're keeping up with Dad's condition here, please read this note about what I write.
Thanks for all your continuing prayers, folks.
Posted at 5:31 pm by Tony :: link
Happy news, and a special day
Dr. Misulis came by last night about 10:30 and talked with Mom and Dad about his condition. He mentioned something we didn't know before, that when Dad was in the ICU, his antibody level was so low due to the prednisone he was taking, that Dr. Misulis had to give him more prednisone via an IV to keep him stable. He said that he and the other doctors had talked about Dad while he was in ICU, and that they believed that given his age and condition, he would probably not survive—but he did.
They talked about Dad's attitude while he was in the hospital and how it has lately improved, and Dr. Misulis said that if Dad's emotional state had not improved, he would have been gone by now. He said that it isn't unusual at all for a patient who has decided, as Dad did, that they are going to die, to pass on within a day or two. Dr. Misulis noted the improvements and said, "As of right now, you're getting better." And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of prayer.
Dad asked Dr. Misulis if he thought that Dad would recover his cognitive ability, since he still had a lot of lessons that he wanted to teach at church. Dr. Misulis said that the Bible that he learned when he was younger would be much easier to remember than, say, what he had for dinner the night before, and even that would become better. He said Dad "might regain up to 80% or 90%" of his mental acumen.
Please pray for Dad that his recovery (praise God!) is as complete as possible, or even more so.
An historical note:
When I talked to Mom last night, I asked if she remembered what day Wednesday was. She said "Yes...but I'm trying to forget it!"
February 26th is Mom's birthday, at least as near as anyone can determine. She was born two months prematurely at home in Middleton, Tennessee, due to Lessie Reaves' grief over losing her own mother. The doctor did not believe that she would survive long, so he didn't bother to make out a birth certificate. He told Lessie, "You won't raise that baby." She replied, "Oh, yes I will!" and proceeded to do so.
The house was an uninsulated wooden box, and the winter wind came right in between the boards. The only heat was a wood-burning stove in the center of the largest room. Lessie kept little Yvonne Gail warm by holding her against her body under the blankets, leaving a little weave-hole for air. She said later that she often had to thump the baby's feet to wake her up enough to nurse. Slowly, the tiny infant gained her strength, and somehow survived the winter.
A few weeks later when the doctor came back to check on Lessie, he found her nursing that little baby, and decided he'd have to make out a birth certificate after all. For a date of birth, he put down their best guess: February 26, 1932.
Looks like miracles run in the family, don't they?
Posted at 9:03 am by Tony :: link
Tuesday, February 25th, 2003
Dad stands and walks with assistance
Dad has become somewhat adamant about getting out of bed, if only to go to the bathroom. He walked there twice last night with his sitter's assistance, and twice again today with the aid of Mom and a nurse. He has also stood and sat in the recliner by his bed a couple of times. He is exhausted after each attempt, and his legs become flushed a deep red. We don't know yet whether the risks of these short forays are outweighed by the benefits, but the mere fact that he has the strength to attempt it in the first place may be a source of some hope. We continue to pray for the best, and take each day as it comes.
Mom is staying with Dad tonight because of the weather, which may have prevented her from getting back in the morning had she gone home. Hopefully, she'll be able to sleep a little now that Dad is resting some better.
Please continue to pray for Dad, and for our family.
Posted at 9:55 pm by Tony :: link
They're even praying in Texas
Dad had a good night's rest last night. He's already had several visitors today, and enjoyed every one.
I called him this afternoon and read him the mail that you folks have sent to johnny@tonyc.com, and he enjoyed that immensely. One very encouraging note was from Christie's childhood friend Tonya Dobson whose son Tristan, 7, was ringbearer at our wedding three years ago. Tonya wrote that they are praying for Dad, whom they met when he came down to Texas to be my best man. Dad wore some yellow yardstick suspenders during the wedding rehearsal, and Tristan loved them. Tonya wrote that when he prays for Dad, he asks God to "be with Tony's dad with the suspenders." Dad got more of a lift from that story than he ever got from the suspenders. Of course, as he is fond of saying, he doesn't wear them "as a rule."
Thank you for all your continuing prayers as well.
Posted at 3:01 pm by Tony :: link
Monday, February 24th, 2003
Another late entry
Dad had a better night last night, Mom said today. She believes that the medical staff at West Tennessee Transitional Care are getting better at controlling Dad's pain, as he seems to be getting more rest, and also seems more comfortable when he is awake.
Yesterday, Mom asked that Dad be taken off Imuran, the chemotherapy drug now used sometimes as a treatment for myasthenia gravis. Even for patients for whom it works, Imuran takes three to 12 months to show even slightly positive effects. In the meantime, it can have serious side effects, as well as interfering with other treatments. Dad's swollen feet couldn't be treated with diuretics, for example, because of harmful interactions with Imuran. Hopefully, this will be an improvement for Dad.
Dad's had several visitors in the last few days, and has enjoyed all of them, though he has sometimes dozed off in the midst of a visit. He still enjoys your email messages very much as well, so please keep sending them.
Folks, it is very difficult to write these updates sometimes, especially when there is little of a positive nature to write about. I know that you are all praying for Dad and for our family—please pray that we remain positive, and our faith can grow stronger even in this time. And please pray diligently for Mom, on whose shoulders so much rests.
Posted at 10:58 pm by Tony :: link
Sunday, February 23rd, 2003
Difficult news
This has been very hard to write, but Mom and I have agreed that it needs to be said, and understood by all.
I wrote on Monday that Dr. Tygart said that Dad would need to go to another facility to continue his care. What I didn't know at the time was that Dr. Tygart had advised, and Mom and Dad had agreed, that he refer Dad into the Hospice program. As many of you know, for a physician to refer a patient to hospice care, the prognosis must be for a life expectancy of six months or less.
The fact is that while Dad has largely recovered from his surgery, it has come at the end of a year that has weakened him terribly, and his body simply no longer has the reserves to overcome all his continuing health problems. This doesn't mean that he can't recover, but sadly, there is not an expectation of that happening now. He is slowly growing weaker, and there does not seem to be any way to get ahead of it.
The Hospice program at West Tennessee Transitional Care is excellent. A block of rooms is reserved specifically for Hospice patients, and they are large and comfortable. Dad's room has two closets, a bathroom, a couch and reclining chair, an end table and dresser, and a large picture window. The staff is very supportive, responsive and understanding, and they love Dad dearly (of course). Be assured that he is receiving the best of care.
Dad has told us so many times since this began that he is ready to go. We are not ready to let him go, but we are willing to do whatever it takes to make him physically and emotionally comfortable during this time. He deserves that, and so much more.
Please continue to remember him, and us, in your prayers. I'm asking God that Dad's pain can be removed from him, and that his faith and courage remain strong. I'm asking for faith and understanding for my family and me. I'm asking for love and support from our friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, I'm also asking for a miracle, but failing that, I'll be happy just to see my Dad again some day.
Posted at 10:09 am by Tony :: link
Saturday, February 22nd, 2003
Weekend update, and a request
Dad seemed to rest much better last night. A nurse gave him Vicodin and MS Contin with his evening meds; the Vicodin acts rather quickly to start relieving pain, and the MS Contin, a timed-release form of morphine sulfate, works overnight to manage the pain. It seems to have worked—even though he was still restless at times, I think he slept better than he has since he left the ICU.
Mom slept well, too, which was also a blessing. Dad got his breakfast, then Mom and I got breakfast in the cafeteria and brought it back up. After a bit more visiting, Mom sent me home to sleep. I meant to get this update online before I hit the sack, but alas, it was not to be. I'll be heading back out in a few minutes, and I'll post another update this evening. Thanks for keeping up, folks, and for your continued prayers.
Oh, and thanks for all the emails you've sent to Dad at johnny@tonyc.com. I've been reading them to him, and he's really enjoyed them a lot. If you don't mind, though, please don't attach pictures and pretty stationery and such, because I'm only able to use a slow dialup from Dad's room, and those emails take forever to download. I started to open one last night to read to Dad, and he'd dozed off before I got it open. Plain old text sounds just the same when I'm reading it to him, anyway. Thanks.
Posted at 4:56 pm by Tony :: link
Friday, February 21st, 2003
Late update
Folks, I apologize for the lateness of this post. I know I've been putting something up two or three times a day lately, and I did write up a report today at work, but I didn't get it posted somehow. Sorry about that.
Dad had a difficult night last night. The nurse said that he may be a "sundowner" - someone who becomes agitated and confused after sunset, and doesn't rest at all until after sunrise. He's napped a lot today, though, despite having a few visitors.
He was very uncomfortable this morning; they gave him two Tylenol and a bath, and he was able to sleep. They're starting to work on his pain management today, beginning with the lightest medication and then progressing until they find the right dosage to keep him comfortable.
I'm here with Dad now. Mom's gone home, where she hasn't been for two days now. Please pray that I stay awake and vigilant, that Mom sleeps until noon, and that Dad rests well and regains his strength and good spirits.
Posted at 8:45 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, February 20th, 2003
An uncertain future
Dad's had several visitors today and has enjoyed them all. One visit was from one of the nurses, who said they were going to work up a pain management plan for him. Dad was very glad of that news, but it brings up a subject that I'm hesitant to write about here.
Most of you know that Dad has had several health problems over the last year, and that each one has seemed to lead almost directly into the next. Many of you know that he's had a lot of health problems over the past couple of decades, especially since 1995 when he was diagnosed with diabetes. What very few know, though, is that he has lived with more or less constant pain for over fifteen years, which he hadn't even told his doctors until two days ago (I only found out today). Apparently, this is why he has had sleeping problems for many years. His worsening health over the last year has only exacerbated the problem.
Dad's recovery, for the moment, seems to have reached a plateau. He feels weaker now than he did last week, and hasn't stood up, even with assistance, since last weekend. Mom and the nurses are continuing to keep his legs elevated, and though his legs look better, his feet have grown even more swollen to the point that Mom can no longer clean between his toes.
Dad is very discouraged, and is beginning to lose hope. Mom said a few days ago that she didn't know what to pray for, and neither do I. I only ask that you pray that God gives comfort to Dad, courage to his family and friends, and wisdom to his caregivers.
Posted at 6:14 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday, February 19th, 2003
New myasthenia medicine
Dad still seems weaker than he did last week. We continue to pray that his strength will improve over time, but things are going very slowly, it seems.
Dr. Bjornstad started Dad on Imuran on Monday, we've now discovered. He is taking five milligrams a day now, with orders to go up to 10 mg in two weeks. The usual dose is 100 mg to 200 mg but it will take a long time to work up to that level, and it may be several months before Dad notices any improvements in his myasthenia gravis symptoms. We're hoping this will allow him to reduce or eliminate the prednisone that he's taking now.
Thank you again for all your prayers.
Posted at 4:56 pm by Tony :: link
First day in the new room
Dad is settled in to his new room at West Tennessee Transitional Care now. His first night was a little restless, and he was more confused than he has been in a while, but he seems to have gotten over that now.
Dad's had several visitors today, and though he enjoyed them, they were very tiring. He was eating his lunch when I last called, and after that he was going to take another nap.
Dad's recovery will take a long time, and we do so appreciate your continued prayers and encouragement.
Posted at 1:51 pm by Tony :: link
Tuesday, February 18th, 2003
Move is complete
Dad has been moved to West Tennessee Transitional Care (formerly the West Tennessee Skilled Nursing Center) today. The move went smoothly, and he and Mom are comfortably settled in. Mom says that the room is nice and comfortable, and the staff has been very friendly and helpful.
One more heater update: The repairman called Mom this afternoon and told her that the new part was installed and the heater is running fine, so there's one less thing to worry about.
Thanks for all your continued prayers.
Posted at 4:59 pm by Tony :: link
Dad's moving day
Dad has had a pretty good day today. He rested well last night, and is looking forward to moving to West Tennessee Transitional Care (formerly the West Tennessee Skilled Nursing Center) today. The transfer paperwork is all done, and the ambulance service just arrived a few minutes ago to move him. Dad will be in room 165 at Transitional Care.
Dr. Bjornstad stopped by to check on Dad before he left, and said that since Dad's going to a new facility, he won't see him again unless he's called. Dr. Tygart came in as well, and since he does see patients at Transitional Care, he will continue to see Dad.
Update on the heater repair: Mom called the repair people about 10:00 this morning and they told her that the part from Atlanta had arrived, and that Mom and Dad's house would be their repairman's next stop. So when Mom goes home tonight, she'll at least have the option of a warm house, anyway.
Please continue to pray for Dad's continued improvement, for his caregivers' continued diligence, and for Mom's continued heat.
Posted at 2:24 pm by Tony :: link
Monday, February 17th, 2003
New treatment, new environment
Dr. Bjornstad came in today and said that there was another myasthenia gravis medication available that they might consider. It was originally used for chemotherapy, and caused several bad side effects. In very small doses, though, it helps myasthenia gravis patients without causing any side effects at all. He is interested in trying this with Dad, in hopes that it will reduce or eliminate the need for prednisone. (Update: Dr. Bjornstad was talking about Imuran, which was added to Dad's meds today.)
Pat Bard, a social worker with Hospice (Mom and Dad are both volunteers), came in and said she just saw Dad's chart and found out that he was in the hospital. She also said she has already reserved a place for Dad at the Skilled Nursing Center, where he can stay while his doctors determine the best course for his long-term treatment. That news, along with Pat's visit, raised Dad's spirits quite a bit. He may be going there as early as tomorrow, so please keep him in your prayers, folks.
Posted at 4:28 pm by Tony :: link
Cancelled tests, impending moves, and heater problems
Dad was to be taken down this morning for the tests that Dr. Tygart ordered, but Dr. Curwen cancelled them, and told Mom and Dad that those tests wouldn't tell them anything they didn't already know. Mom commented that Dr. Humphreys, Dad's cardiologist, had ruled out heart disease last year after all this started.
Dr. Tygart also came in this morning. He said that because Dad is still too weak for the program of physical therapy, that "sometime" they will have to move him out of the Rehabilitation Center . He isn't ready to go home, of course, so they would move him into either the Skilled Nursing Center on the hospital premises, or Maplewood Health Care Center three miles away. He can still get physical therapy at either of those facilities when he's strong enough.
Dr. Tygart also said that he believes that Dad's medication is contributing to his weakness, and that eliminating some of his medication might help him get his strength back.
To add one more thing to worry about, the heater at Mom & Dad's house quit early this morning. The repairman came and found that the "rotor motor" had gone out, and told Mom he'd have to get one from Memphis. He called back later, though, and told her that there weren't any in Memphis, but that they'll send one up from Atlanta. So she's out of heat tonight but she plans to sleep there anyway, though I've tried to convince her otherwise.
Please pray for my folks.
Posted at 1:19 pm by Tony :: link
Discouraged
Dad's had a difficult morning. He didn't get a good night's sleep last night, and that tends to make him feel worse both physically and in spirit. He's rarely confused now when he's fully awake, and though that's very encouraging, the increased awareness of his condition is wearing hard on him. He's begun to feel that he isn't making progress at all, and since he is expected to be in rehab for several weeks, that's not a good outlook for him to have. Please pray that Dad's strength increases, that his outlook improves, and that his recovery continues.
Posted at 8:07 am by Tony :: link
Sunday, February 16th, 2003
Sunday status
Dr. Bjornstad came in today and asked Dad if he felt better since his medication was reduced yesterday. Dad said no, and Dr. Bjornstad replied that it might take a couple of days to feel any positive effects. Mom asked him how many myasthenia gravis patients they see, and he said that in the seven months he's been at Semmes-Murphey, he's diagnosed two cases. He said it's not a common condition, but it's not completely rare either. Mom mentioned talking to him yesterday about Dad's myasthenia crisis, and Dr. Bjornstad said, "I never said it was a myasthenia crisis." It seems that there may be some wires crossed somewhere.
There hasn't been much change in Dad today, though he's continuing to do better overall. His vital signs are looking very good, and he has managed a few times this weekend, with assistance, to get up and go to his bathroom, though it does completely tire him out to do so. Mom trimmed his beard today, and he said that made him feel better. Also, if you sent an email to johnny@tonyc.com this weekend, I've read them all to him at least once, and he was tickled with them all. Your thoughts and prayers lift his spirit immensely.
Please continue to pray for Dad's recovery, for Mom's health and strength, and for his caregivers' continued wisdom and diligence.
Posted at 4:30 pm by Tony :: link
Saturday, February 15th, 2003
Saturday activity
Dr. Bryan Bjornstad, another neurologist with the Semmes-Murphey Clinic, came in this afternoon and tested Dad's strength and reflexes. He said that Dad's had pretty good strength, except for his shortness of breath. He said that the antibiotic has weakened him somewhat, and that the prednisone may be having an effect as well. He reduced the dosage of both, switching the antibiotic from IV to oral and dropping the prednisone from 60 mg to 50 mg.
Dr. Bjornstad also said that Dad's breathing problem on January 29th was indeed a myasthenia crisis (apparently, they finally agreed on that diagnosis), and that his myasthenia has definitely had an impact on his condition and recovery.
Dr. Tygart came in later, and said that he'd decided that they should do some tests Monday to rule out any lung or heart problems. They took Dad down about 4:00 p.m. today, though, to take x-rays of his lungs.
Mom's gone home to get some sleep. Dad seems to be resting better tonight, though he's still a bit restless at times. Earlier this evening he got to talk to his uncle Edwin up in Springfield, and that raised his spirits quite a bit. I read him some emails that y'all have sent to johnny@tonyc.com earlier, and he loved that as well.
Thanks, folks, for all your continuing prayers and support.
Posted at 11:33 pm by Tony :: link
The natives are restless
Dad had a restless night. A nurse gave him half of an Ambien at about 11:45 p.m., and after a while that seemed to do some good, but when Mom got back at about 5:00 a.m., Dad told her he felt like he hadn't slept at all. He's resting pretty well today, though.
Dr. Curwen came in today and talked to Mom and Dad, and Dad talked about his general weakness. Dr. Curwen wondered if the myasthenia gravis medication that Dr. Misulis is giving him may be responsible. Dr. Curwen said he would talk to Dr. Misulis about it.
Posted at 12:11 pm by Tony :: link
Friday, February 14th, 2003
Dad's improving—want to email him?
I'm down at Jackson-Madison County General sitting up with Pop, and he seems to be doing much better tonight. Although his speech is still somewhat slurred, he's making sense 80-90% of the time, and his legs look a lot better than they did just a few days ago. His feet are still noticeably swollen, but everything's pink now instead of shades of red and blue, as they were on Monday. Dad says he feels much better this afternoon than he did this morning, that discomfort having "worked itself out," as it were.
Mom's gone home to get some sleep; she was pretty worn out tonight. The nurse gave Dad a couple of Benadryl's a while ago, and he's resting more or less quietly now, so I thought now was the time to update the weblog.
I've gotten quite a few supportive emails, many of which I've read to Dad, who enjoys them all. I'm sure that a few folk of you would write to Dad if they thought he was reading it, so I've created a mailbox here for him. Send an email to johnny@tonyc.com, hopefully by Sunday afternoon, and I'll be sure to read it to him while I'm here. Emails I get after that will probably have to wait until next weekend to be read aloud, though I'll probably read some to him over the phone during the week.
Whether you send an email or not, please continue to pray for Dad. We appreciate it so much.
Posted at 10:06 pm by Tony :: link
A difficult day
Dad had a bad morning today. About 9:30 a.m., he got really restless, and has been in quite a bit of generalized discomfort. He told Mom, "I feel as bad as I've ever felt in my life." Dr. Curwen told Mom this morning that he would check Dad's current test results to see if there's anything they can do for him, but as of now Mom hasn't heard from him again.
Mom can hardly bear to watch Dad suffer; when I told her that I was praying for her and Dad, she said tearfully, "Tony, I don't even know what to pray for." This experience has been very hard on both of them, but they are holding onto each other. They really, really need all our prayers.
Dad has rested better this afternoon, and is sleeping now. We are hoping he will rest well tonight. Lord willing, I'll be with him all this weekend, and I'll be updating the site from the hospital room. Please continue to pray for our family, but especially for Mom and Dad.
Posted at 2:51 pm by Tony :: link
Thursday, February 13th, 2003
No big news for now
Dad rested much better last night and today, but he's still very easily tired. He seems more alert every day, but even the effort of carrying on a conversation exhausts him after two or three minutes. His potential mental capacity seems good, if only he can get his strength back up over the next few weeks. I can't even express in words how good it feels to be able to even speculate about the next few weeks, when for so long we haven't been able to see past the next few hours. Please keep praying for Pop.
Posted at 5:40 pm by Tony :: link
Morning update
Dad slept better last night than he has in a while, and has napped some this morning as well. He's still discouraged about his condition and his inability to think and communicate more clearly. Mom continues to encourage him, though, and reminds him that only for the past two or three days has he been able to think clearly enough to be so aware of his condition. There's plenty of reason for optimism.
The physical therapist is with him now, helping him to exercise his arms and legs. They won't start taking him to the gym for therapy until he's stronger, probably after his blood infection is taken care of.
Posted at 10:49 am by Tony :: link
Wednesday, February 12th, 2003
More visits
Dad's physical and speech therapists both came in this afternoon, each spending just a few minutes with him. They aren't working intensively with him yet, but today's sessions were still enough to wear Dad out. He slept pretty soundly afterwards.
Dr. Rainey checked in on Dad this evening and gave an update on the blood tests: The infection in Dad's blood is the same one that started at his central line. They're giving him an antibiotic treatment that normally takes seven to ten days, and Dr. Rainey says that it's more than enough to handle the infection.
Dr. Diffee stopped by on the way to the E.R. tonight to see Dad, just for a friendly visit. He said that he's keeping Dad and us in his prayers. We're grateful for all your prayers as well.
Posted at 11:04 pm by Tony :: link
Challenges ahead, but good news as well
Dad's continuing to become more and more alert, and as he does so, his condition is becoming more concrete for him. This morning was pretty difficult for him emotionally; at one point, he told Mom that he felt that he "just can't get a hold of anything." About that time Charlie Carrothers, a chaplain with Hospice (Mom and Dad are both Hospice volunteers) stopped by to visit. He prayed with Dad and Mom for a while, and Dad's spirit lifted considerably after that.
Dad's chest/stomach pain is gone now, and Dr. Tygart is pleased. Dad's got some history of acid reflux, which can present as chest pain. They're giving him medicine to counter that, and it seems to be working well.
I got to talk to Dad for a few minutes about 1:00 this afternoon, and he sounds much better. He still tires easily, but this was by far the longest and most aware conversation I've had with him since before the craniotomy on January 27th. It was really good to hear him like that. Also, Mom says that though his feet are still swollen, their color has gotten better, so maybe we're on the right track there as well.
Please continue to pray for Dad and our family, and that God give him strength in both body and spirit.
Posted at 2:00 pm by Tony :: link
Wednesday morning update
Wes drove from Tullahoma yesterday and stayed with Dad last night so Mom could get some rest. He and Dad talked a lot, and Wes told me that about 75% of what Dad said "made perfect sense," then Dad would become incoherent as he got tired. That's a big improvement from last weekend.
Mom went home to sleep, but didn't sleep too soundly and wound up coming back to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. She said that Dad was having some swelling related to his kidney infection, but that seemed to be getting better. She also said that his legs look much better, but that his feet may look a little more swollen. His feet feel warmer, though, so that's a good sign. Please continue to pray for him—God's hand is being felt.
Mom said that some of the relatives are getting confused about Dad's condition, or are getting confusing information. I'm going to put up a short synopsis of Dad's situation today and link to it from the weblog, so folks don't have to read through the last three weeks of entries (over 10,000 words about Dad so far). It'll be on the left, above the archives.
Posted at 8:31 am by Tony :: link
Tuesday, February 11th, 2003
Doctor says it's probably his stomach
Dr. Tygart believes that Dad's pain is in his stomach, and that all the medication he's being given may be giving him an ulcer. Dr. Tygart increased the dosage of the medicine he's being given to soothe his stomach. They have also given him three or four units of morphine (a very low dose) to ease the discomfort.
Posted at 1:55 pm by Tony :: link
Chest pain
Dad only ate about a third of his breakfast this morning, which is unusual. Mom asked him if he wanted some more, and he said no, that his "chest felt full." Later, he said that he had pain across his chest. Since 9:00 a.m., they've done an x-ray of his chest and an EKG, given him two nitroglycerin tablets, and they're giving him oxygen via a nasal cannula. He's still feeling some chest pain, and Mom said they're going to give him some morphine to ease it.
The doctor hasn't been in to see him yet, so Mom doesn't know what's causing it or what they can do to help him. Please pray for Dad, and Mom, today.
Posted at 12:12 pm by Tony :: link
Dad's a little better
I talked to Mom a few minutes ago and she said that Dad was some better this morning. His legs, which are now being kept elevated, look better to her than they did yesterday. Also, he seems more alert and aware.
I talked to him for a few moments, and though he sometimes wandered, he seemed pretty coherent most of the time. He knew who I was, that Wes was coming down tomorrow, and that I was coming down after that. He said that he wasn't out of the woods yet, but he felt better than he did last week. Praise God for that.
Thanks for all your prayers, and please continue to pray for Dad and for those who are caring for him.
Posted at 9:07 am by Tony :: link
Monday, February 10th, 2003
Problems with circulation and communication
Dr. Curwen came in today, and said that they couldn't give Dad heparin to break up the clots in his legs. Instead they'll keep his legs elevated to try to improve the venal circulation. They're also continuing to give him antibiotics for the kidney infection and the infection around the central line site. Dr. Curwen said that Dad had several hurdles to overcome but he believed that he could do it. He also said that he would call Dr. Barnett to consult with him about Dad's condition.
Mom called Dr. Diffee, Dad's primary physician, this morning. Dr. Diffee told her that he had been in the hospital all day Saturday, and had thought that Dad had been sent home.
It turns out that West Tennessee Rehabilitation Center is a separate entity from Jackson-Madison County General, even though it is on the fourth floor of the hospital, and when a patient is moved to that floor, they are discharged from the hospital.
So apparently, all the doctors who had treated Dad for the past two weeks thought he went home last Friday. One by one, they are finding out that he is still on the premises, and that his condition has worsened.
Dr. Tygart came to Dad's room this afternoon and talked to Mom. He said that they were treating Dad's infections, but that there was nothing they could do about Dad's legs right now except keep them elevated and hope for the best. He referred to the clots as having a "snowball" effect, meaning that they can continue to grow as long as conditions are right for them to do so. He said that he believed that even in the best case, his legs would get a lot worse before they get better.
Patsy Ellis, a friend of ours who works at the hospital, saw Dr. Misulis in the elevator today and told him about Dad's condition. He told her that he would try to come by and see Dad today.
Thanks so much for caring and keeping up, and for all your many prayers. Please continue to pray that God give Dad and our family the strength to face what's ahead.
Posted at 4:40 pm by Tony :: link
Treatment becoming more aggressive
The phlebotomist who came in yesterday wasn't able to get a blood sample from both arms, and another one came in later had the same problem, so they sent in the "SWAT team" of phlebotomists later in the evening. Of course, they arrived while Dad was out of the room having the Doppler ultrasound, and they said they would take care of another patient on the same floor and then come back to Dad. They came back later in the afternoon and took Dad's blood, and apparently it showed some infection. They gave Dad an antibiotic IV last night.
The Doppler showed that Dad has clots in both legs which are interfering with circulation. They've now added heparin to the IV to attempt to dissolve those clots and get better circulation in his legs. They're very reluctant to give Dad any kind of blood thinner because of the hematoma, so they will be monitoring him very closely. (CORRECTION: They only talked about starting Dad on a heparin IV. Dr. Curwen said later that this wouldn't be possible.)
Dad is still restless and incoherent, and it's taking its toll on Mom. Please continue to pray for her and for Dad through this difficult time.
Posted at 8:43 am by Tony :: link
Sunday, February 9th, 2003
Another doctor, another test
I'm back in Nashville now. Mom sent me home about 1:30 p.m. so she wouldn't have to worry about me driving in the snow. I drove in snow the whole way.
Dr. Honeycutt came by after I left, and had a nurse take out Dad's central line. He also sent Dad down for an x-ray of both lungs, and told Mom that he thought Dad might have an infection. Mom wasn't clear on what the connection between the two might be.
Mom got Dad a cup of sugar-free ice cream while he was down in x-ray, and it had softened nicely by the time they brought him back. Once he was settled in, she told him "I've got some soft ice cream for you," and he said "Oh, good!" very clearly.
Emily Ferguson will come tonight and sit with Dad until morning, so Mom can go home and get some rest. Your prayers are appreciated more than you know.
Posted at 4:19 pm by Tony :: link
A hard weekend continues
I was up with Dad most of the night, as I suppose you can tell from the last entry's timestamp. He was very restless, and he tried to get out of bed a lot. The handrails are up and that kept him from falling on the floor, but he's also managed several times to get his leg caught between the mattress and the rail, and that's obviously painful. We just have to be quick to respond when he tries to do that.
Dad's been pulling at the central line by his collarbone over the last several days, and it's finally gotten infected. Sharron came in about 2:30 a.m. this morning and cleaned and redressed it, but a doctor will need to look at it today and decide if it needs to come out.
We've been getting pretty discouraged. Dad seems more confused and disoriented now than he did after getting out of the ICU, and his legs and feet seem to look worse all the time. The most frustrating time is during the weekend, when the doctors here are few and far between, and generally leave decisions about treatment to the doctors who will come in on Monday. One nurse said that that is one of their primary complaints: A patient whose condition starts to degrade over the weekend may not get proper treatment for it until Monday, and that hurts the patient as well as making the nursing staff look bad.
The physical therapists came in to take Dad to therapy this morning, but he wasn't in good enough shape to take him down to the gym, so they worked with him on the bed. They commented on the state of his legs and feet, and we asked them why they he isn't still wearing compression socks. They said they didn't know and would ask a nurse, and a nurse came in soon after and said they'd look into ordering the socks for him.
Dr. Curwen, the head of the Rehabilitation Center, came in about noon; he was paged by the nurse to whom we'd expressed concern. He said that Dad's legs and feet do look worse than yesterday, and that he may have some infection. He's ordered arterial and venal Doppler ultrasounds to determine whether the problem is localized, but he felt that it was probably a general deterioration in his legs. We told him about the central line infection, which he apparently wasn't aware of; he looked at it and said that it was obvious that it needed to come out, and that a nurse could do that.
A nurse came in a few minutes later and took Dad's vitals and said they were all normal. A few minutes after that, a couple of young ladies came in to carry Dad to lunch. They got him into a wheelchair and belted him in, and were gone maybe two minutes before they came back; Dr. Curwen had told them that Dad needed to stay in bed. While they got him back into bed, another nurse came and put a blue "HOLD" sign on the door.
The phlebotomist just came in and is taking Dad's blood while Mom calms him. I need to post this, or I'll just keep writing and never get it posted. Please, please pray for Dad and our family, folks. We need your prayers so much now.
Posted at 1:02 pm by Tony :: link
Late night in the rehab clinic
We got a call at the hospital this afternoon from John Swabby, Dad's uncle in Missouri. He'd just heard that something had happened to Dad, and he was almost in a panic. I told him how Dad was doing, and he said they'd be praying for him.
Afterwards, Wilbur Campbell came to sit with Dad for a while, and Mom told me to go out to the house to shower and take a nap. Reluctantly I obeyed, for I stank.
While I was home, I checked if Dad had unanswered email from anyone else who hadn't heard about his condition. There were several unopened emails, so I gleaned the addresses from them and sent out a personal spam to all 150 or so of them, letting them know about Dad's condition and this weblog. Hopefully that will help get the word out, and get the prayers up.
One of the nurses came in this afternoon and said that this morning's sample showed that Dad has a urinary tract infection, so now they're giving him an antibiotic for that, and he's supposed to drink more water. We're offering it to him all the time now, and he takes it quite often.
The speech pathologist came in this afternoon and did her evaluation with Dad, establishing a "baseline" for his therapy. He's not able to communicate very well most of the time, so there'll be plenty of opportunity for improvement in that area—especially after the blood clot behind his left eye has cleared completely.
Sharron, Dad's night nurse, took Dad's vitals a couple of hours ago and found that he had a temperature of 100°, and gave him some Tylenol to fend that off a bit. Sharron and the other nurses have been infinitely patient and kind with Dad and with us. They're truly the salt of the earth.
Dad's dealing with a lot right now, being a 72-year-old diabetic with a craniotomy, deep-vein thrombosis, and a bladder infection. He needs your prayers more than I need sleep—and boy, I need sleep.
Posted at 2:17 am by Tony :: link
Saturday, February 8th, 2003
Live update from Room 457
I'm posting this directly from Dad's hospital room with my laptop (ain't technology great?) It took a while to get set up, but now I've at least got enough access to keep this weblog updated.
Dad was dozing when I came in last night, and Mom and I visited for a moment. I went over to stand next to him, and when he looked up and saw me he grinned really big, grabbed hold of my neck and hugged for dear life.
Mom planned to stay last night, but about an hour after I got here she decided she'd better go home and get some things done. Dad and I spent a night in Bachelor Pad #457, which involved a lot of tossing and turning and grumbling, but included a lot of sleep as well. Dad tried to get up several times, and about three times got himself into a seated position against the handrail before I woke up to settle him back. All in all, though, I managed to keep him out of trouble almost as well as Mom would have.
Mom brought breakfast this morning. After a while the physical therapists came to take Dad for his first short session of therapy. He came back later pretty tired, but the head of rehab said that Dad was two days ahead of where they thought he'd be by now. That was very encouraging.
Dad's very tired, and when he talks he doesn't make much sense most of the time—he sounds like he does when he talks in his sleep. But very often, when he's answering a question or wants to say something specific, he's very clear. Wes called just before Dad got back from therapy, and after he got settled in I handed him the phone, and Dad talked to Wes for two or three minutes as clearly as I could have ever hoped.
They took him down later for a shower, and when he came back he was all smiles, and said that it had made him "feel so much better." It made him smell better too.
Lydia Smith with speech therapy came in while Dad was eating lunch (fruit cup, roast beef sandwich, whipped potatoes, green beans, sliced peaches, ice cream and iced tea) and said that she was very pleased with how Dad has progressed. She'll be doing an initial evaluation this afternoon, testing his "receptive language, expressive language and cognition."
We're having a good day, with good news coming from several fronts. The temperature outside is 10° with three inches of snow on the ground, but it's all warm smiles in here, especially Dad. Your prayers have been so effective, and so appreciated.
Posted at 1:11 pm by Tony :: link
Friday, February 7th, 2003
Dad changes rooms, prepares for therapy
Dad's been moved to a room in the West Tennessee Rehabilitation Center on the fourth floor of the hospital for physical therapy. He is still disoriented, and Mom says that sometimes he'll talk and not make sense, but sometimes he say something and make good sense.
The results from last night's CAT scan are in, and the clot behind his left eye is disappearing nicely. We're still hoping and praying for a strong recovery.
I'm heading to Jackson now to spend the night with Dad, while Mom goes home to get some sleep. I don't know when I'll be able to post my next entry, but I'm taking the laptop with me hoping that I'll be able to connect from Dad's room and keep this up to date.
Mom said "Put on there that I am guarding him zealously!"
Posted at 5:33 pm by Tony :: link
Dad moving to therapy floor
Dad will be moved down to the fourth floor today, hopefully to begin his physical therapy soon. He's sleeping now; Mom says he is resting much better, "and that's a good sign." Emily Ferguson is coming in a little while to watch Dad for a couple of hours, and give Mom a chance to go home and get a few things done.
Posted at 11:06 am by Tony :: link
Quieter and resting better (+ my new job)
Mom said that Dad was much quieter last night. He only tried to get up twice, where he had tried perhaps forty times the night before. Mom said she was able to get considerably more sleep, but she still sounded tired; I'll be down to relieve her tonight, though, so maybe she can get even more sleep this weekend.
They've been in to change his sheets and his hospital gown, he's still pretty confused, but when the nurses talked to him he remembered that he had been in the Air Force, so as Mom says, "he's still in there."
They did another CAT scan last night to check the progress of the clot behind his left eye. Hopefully, we'll get good news about that today. Please continue to pray for a good recovery!
Oh, I haven't mentioned it, but I started my new job as Senior Web Developer for Southwestern/Great American this week, and I really like it a lot. The people are very friendly, and the work is challenging and exciting (for a geek like me, anyway). Prayers for success are accepted on that front as well.
Posted at 7:18 am by Tony :: link
Thursday, February 6th, 2003
Evening report
Dad's still about the same—confused and agitated—though he's sleeping quite a bit as well. Roy Peterson came out for a couple of hours and visited. Mom got to go downstairs and get some dinner, then came back up and took a half-hour nap while Roy sat with Dad.
Dr. Misulis and Dr. Tygart (the hospital doctor) have both been in to check on Dad. Mom told them that Dr. Barnett had said they could give him something to help him rest tonight. Dr. Misulis said that they couldn't because that would worsen his agitation and would weaken him because of his myasthenia gravis, and Dr. Tygart agreed.
While Mom was talking, the nurse came in and told her that Dr. Tygart had reinstated Dad's prednisone. Dr. Misulis had put him on a 60 mg daily dose when he was diagnosed with myasthenia, and they had finally gotten the dose down to 30 mg every other day. As of now, though, he is back on 60 mg daily.
Mom is disappointed, but she is trusting the doctors that this is what Dad needs right now to get better, and we're all trusting in God that he will watch over Dad and all of us. We continue to covet and appreciate all your prayers.
Posted at 5:22 pm by Tony :: link
Lunch and a nap
Dad ate a good lunch (salad, cream potatoes, a slice of turkey, peas & carrots, pineapple cubes, bread, tea and grape juice) and he's sleeping now. He's been agitated most of the day, and not very coherent; this is normal, they've said, when someone Dad's age has been in an induced coma for several days. They said the hospital doctor would come by and see him, but that it will probably be late afternoon.
Mom's pretty tired, so Roy Peterson, a friend from church, will come out in a little while to sit with Dad for a couple of hours while she takes a nap on the couch. She doesn't want to leave him, but she can't sleep unless someone is there to make sure he doesn't try to get up. She doesn't want Cheryl or me to come do it, though.
Lord willing, I'll be down there tomorrow evening to spend the weekend, so Mom can go home and get some good sleep. Please keep Dad and Mom in your prayers this weekend.
Posted at 1:45 pm by Tony :: link
Weak as branch water, but walked today
The therapist came in this morning and got Dad up out of bed and walking with a walker. Dad was very, very weak, though, and on the way back to bed he "sort of melted down to the floor." They got him back up and onto the bed, and he's sleeping now. They said that the duration of the ICU stay, plus his previous semi-bedridden period and his current intestinal difficulty, have weakened him quite a bit, so it will be a while longer before they get him up to the fourth floor for more intensive physical therapy.
He is also much more confused when he's tired, so he wasn't making much sense at times this morning. Still, everyone is pretty happy with the way he's coming along.
Please continue to keep him in your prayers, that he gets his strength back quickly.
Posted at 11:11 am by Tony :: link
Restless night
Mom said this morning that Dad had a "fighting night," trying to get out of bed all night. The nurses said that since there wasn't any medication of that sort ordered for him, all they could give him was a "light pill" that would help him sleep if he were having any discomfort." Well, that didn't help at all, Mom said, and this morning he was tired out and not alert. The doctor will be in in a little while, and we'll know more about what they plans to do to get Dad to rest.
Posted at 7:14 am by Tony :: link
Wednesday, February 5th, 2003
First day in the room
Everyone on the ICU staff has treated Dad wonderfully this past week, but Mom and Dad were thrilled to get out of there today and into a regular room. Mom said that Dad would like to get up and walk around even now, but that he can't get up by himself yet.
The physical therapist got him out of bed and sitting for 25 minutes today, and exercised his arms and legs as well. If he does go to therapy in a couple of days, he'll get a similar room on fourth floor. Mom will only be able to stay with him then if it doesn't interfere with his therapy, which will be quite strenuous and challenging for him.
I got to talk to him for a couple of minutes while Mom held the phone (yes, I cried a little), and he sounded really, really good. He knew who I was, talked about being out of ICU and in a regular room, and that they might have to keep him a bit longer to get his strength up.
He's doing well, but he has a way to go, so keep those prayers up!
Posted at 5:51 pm by Tony :: link
Dad's out of ICU!
Dad is in a regular room on the sixth floor now. A physical therapist is with him right now, and says that he will need some physical therapy before he goes home. One of two physical therapists will be seeing him each day for the next couple of days, and then they'll move him to a room on the fourth floor where he'll receive more physical therapy.
The therapist told Mom and Dad that his left side is in very good shape, but his right side is still a little weak, so he needs to get his strength up on that side so he can get around and walk safely.
Everything is going so well, thanks to your prayers and God's care.
Posted at 12:04 pm by Tony :: link
A talk with Dad's nurse
I called to check on Dad's condition a little while ago and got to talk with David, Dad's ICU nurse during the night shift. We talked for about fifteen minutes about Dad and how he was doing, both in body and in spirit. He said that Dad was in good spirits and "always laughing." He said that the two of them talked often, and that Dad talked about his wife and family and close friends a lot. Dad is still speaking very softly, so you have to listen closely to understand.
I asked him about Dad's confusion, and David said that it came and went. He'd mentioned me many times, and that I "had a boot, or something," and David thought that might be related to the confusion. I thought about it for a moment and realized that Dad was probably talking about boot in the sense of "booting a computer," which is how I'm always using the word when we're together (which is often near his computer).
David said that the physical therapist had come to see Dad today, and had gotten him sitting up in a chair. He said Dad was still very weak and needed a lot of help getting up and down. I told him that Dad was pretty weak when he entered the hospital, and that a week in a coma surely hadn't strengthened him, though it had done great things for his brain.
David said that Dad's stomach had been upset earlier, and that he had given him Lomotil to take care of it, and that Dad was now sleeping under its effects. He also mentioned that Dad had had a headache, and had been holding his head. He had told David that it wasn't too bad, and David had given him a painkiller for it. He seemed to be resting well now, and hopefully will feel better in the morning.
I thanked David for all he was doing for Dad, and told him how much we all appreciate him for all care he's shown. In the same spirit, I thank all of you for your support and many prayers.
Posted at 1:08 am by Tony :: link
Tuesday, February 4th, 2003
Dad eats!
Mom and Dad had a good visit at 5:00 p.m. He was served a "light" supper, and I mean light! Clear soup, Jello, two kinds of juice and tea. Mom said he ate it well and said it was good. The nurse told Mom that they would give him another supper later, to spread it out a little bit.
They got him to sit up for a few minutes today, and he liked that as well. Looks like he's on his way out of ICU! He's looking forward to being in a regular room, and Mom's really looking forward to being able to stay with him for more than twenty minutes at a time, four times a day.
Mom's going back to the hospital early in the morning so she can catch Dr. Barnett. He comes into ICU very early every day, and then comes to the waiting room at around 6:45 a.m. Mom says that if she doesn't see him then, some days she may not see him at all, and she's eager to hear any news that he has about Dad.
Thanks again for all your prayers, and thanks be to God for another blessed day.
Posted at 9:56 pm by Tony :: link
Brief update
Mom said that Dad was more alert and less confused at the 1:00 visit. She said he'd been watching the clock, and he knew exactly when she was supposed to show up. "His voice was a little stronger, but you still have to be close and listen to hear the words," Mom said. He's still sipping Sprite; no news on the rest of his diet.
His continuing recovery is an answer to many, many prayers—thanks for all of yours.
Posted at 2:06 pm by Tony :: link
Dad considers a business opportunity
At the 9:00 a.m. visit, they opened the ICU doors exactly on the hour. Dad saw Mom coming toward his room and said, "You're right on the dot!" She talked to him for a while and he answered questions well:
"How many kids do you have?"
"Three."
"Can you name them all?"
"Oldest to youngest, or youngest to oldest?"
She could also see the mild confusion that Dr. Barnett mentioned, though; among other things, Dad told Mom that Ray Hawk wanted him and Dad to raise cats. That's an expected side effect of the Diprivan they gave him, but yes, it's still funny.
Mom said that Dad's feet are looking really good, and that since she's been rubbing her skin cream on them at each visit, they look like a baby's. Having seen Dad's feet on more than a few occasions, I can attest to the fact that that's a drastic improvement.
Mom told Dad that they were thinking he might be able to leave ICU tomorrow, and that once he was in a room she'd be able to stay with him instead of just visiting four times a day. Dad was really glad to hear that.
Dad's hacking and coughing quite a bit, still getting a week's worth of nastiness out. Dr. Gilroy said that his lungs are fine (more good news). They're going to sit him up in a chair today and give him some light food (he's already drunk some Sprite), and see how he does with that.
Posted at 10:43 am by Tony :: link
Dad's continuing recovery
Dr. Barnett stopped by the ICU waiting room to talk to Mom this morning. He said that Dad had pulled out his feeding tube (the one that went through his nose) in his sleep last night, but that they are going to start him on a "light diet" today and if he handles that okay, they won't put the tube back in.
He said that Dad is talking fine this morning, and though he is still somewhat confused, that's expected after what he's been through. He obeyed orders fine, and everything is looking good. As a matter of fact, Dr. Barnett said that if all goes well, they should have him out of ICU and in a room tomorrow! That news thrilled Mom completely, as you can well imagine.
Thanks, everyone, for all your continuing prayers and good wishes. We continue to need and appreciate them greatly.
Posted at 8:21 am by Tony :: link
Monday, February 3rd, 2003
Dad speaks!
Mom had a great visit with Dad tonight! As I said before, he has the tube out now, and he was talking! He's still "not putting much air through his throat," Mom said, but he was making good sense! He's coughing and hacking some, and Mom told him that it was good for him to get that stuff out, and he said "Yeah, the doctor said."
He's so hoarse from having that tube for a week that Mom "couldn't catch" a few things he said, but she said not to say much and to take it easy on his throat, and that was fine with him.
The Diprivan-induced coma really worked—Dad told Mom that he thought he'd gone into the hospital only yesterday. He knew, though, that everyone had been concerned and had sent their best wishes and prayers, and he remembered that Mom had gone to church yesterday. She told him that she'd been there for every visiting time except one (last night at nine o'clock), and asked him if he wanted her to stay for the nine o'clock visit tonight, and he said no, he'd rather she go on home. She told him she'd see him in the morning at the 9:00 a.m. time, though she'd be there earlier.
We have been so blessed today, as Dad continues to exceed everyone's expectations. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers, everyone!
Posted at 6:20 pm by Tony :: link
Tube is out, all is well
They've taken the tube out, and Dad is breathing on his own and doing fine. They'll be monitoring him closely for the next few hours, but so far everything looks great. Thanks for all your prayers, and thanks to God for His healing power.
Posted at 3:29 pm by Tony :: link
Extubation
Dr. Gilroy came out and talked to Mom about 1:30 p.m., and said that he's ready to remove the breathing tube. He had called downstairs for his team, and said he would do it as soon as they got to the ICU.
He reminded Mom (unnecessarily) that there is a danger that the airway will not stay open, and he will have to be reintubated, so they'll be watching him very carefully for the first several hours just in case. We're all praying through this time, both for Dad and for those who are caring for him, and know that you will too.
Posted at 2:32 pm by Tony :: link
Love means never having to say your feet are too dry
Mom visited Dad at 9:00 a.m. and said he seemed about the same. They've removed his compression stockings and found that his feet had dry skin, so they asked Mom if she'd like to rub some skin cream into his feet. Of course Mom makes her own skin cream and had a jar with her to rub on Dad's hands, so she was glad to do it. Now his feet are nice and organically moisturized.
Posted at 11:28 am by Tony :: link
Monday morning briefing
Dr. Barnett came out to the ICU waiting room a little before 8:00 a.m. and talked to Mom. He told her that they'd reduced Dad's Diprivan and that he's "awake and alert" and obeyed all his orders this morning. Mom told him, "That's better than he does when he's well!"
Dr. Barnett said he's going to talk to Dr. Gilroy about removing the breathing tube, which he'd like to do today. He's very happy with Dad's progress up to now.
This is a big day for Dad, so please keep him in your prayers.
Posted at 8:56 am by Tony :: link
Sunday, February 2nd, 2003
A good, stable weekend
Mom saw Dad at 5:00 p.m. before church, and he was the same as the 1:00 visit except "maybe not quite as awake." He responded to Mom, though; Diane, the head ICU nurse, came in once and said, "Stick up one finger for me, Johnny," and he did it. Diane said that he's hearing what they're saying, his brain is processing it, and he's responding appropriately, so that shows that he is thinking and comprehending.
Mom went home to rest after church; she told Diane to tell David (the night nurse) that she was going home and would be back tomorrow. (Mom hasn't missed one of the twenty-four visiting times since Dad's been in ICU.)
Dr. Bartlett will be back tomorrow; if Dad is still doing well, they will remove the tube assisting his breathing, and may take him off the Diprivan. We are praying hard tonight that all will go well, and we appreciate all your prayers so much.
Posted at 10:32 pm by Tony :: link
Sunday a day of rest for Dad
When Mom saw Dad at 9:00 this morning, she visited him for a while and asked, "Did you know I was going to church this morning?" and he nodded. She asked, "Is that all right?" Dad nodded again.
Mom told him, "Wes isn't here to say a prayer, would you like me to pray with you?" and he did. She said that while she prayed, he held her hand and "he was as still as a mouse."
Mom said it was "wonderful" to be at church, and to see that the girders are already up for the new church building. Prayers are being answered all the time all around us, folks, if we only take a moment to look around.
Dad wasn't as awake at the 1:00 p.m. visit, but he was resting well, and he still knew who Mom was and what she was talking about.
Mom will visit him again at 5:00 p.m., and then she'll go to church and then home to clean up and rest. Tomorrow morning is the re-evaluation when Dad's doctors plan to extubate him and, perhaps, bring him out of the induced coma.
Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts, encouraging words, and continuing prayers.
Posted at 3:27 pm by Tony :: link
Saturday, February 1st, 2003
Afternoon visits all good
The 1, 5, and 9 p.m. visits went very well. Mom said that Dad has been responsive to her, nodding and shaking his head and squeezing her hand. She tells him several times during each visit that she loves him, and when she asks if he loves her, he smiles and nods every time.
She asked him once if he knew who she was, and he nodded. She asked if she was Yvonne Campbell, and he smiled and nodded again. She asked if she was Marilyn Monroe, and he smiled and shook his head.
Everyone is very pleased with his progress, and looking forward to extubating him on Monday, since he is breathing almost entirely on his own even now. Please continue to remember him in your prayers, that his Monday re-evaluation goes well and he continues to advance toward complete recovery.
Posted at 10:29 pm by Tony :: link
Shuttle disaster
"The space shuttle Columbia, with seven astronauts aboard, broke up as it descended over central Texas today before a planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida." --CNN
I don't know what to do except to pray for the families of the seven on board, and that God comfort and strengthen us all.
Posted at 11:12 am by Tony :: link
Saturday morning visit
Mom said this morning that she is "real encouraged" by Dad's progress. He didn't open his eyes during this morning's visit, but he held their hands and nodded, shook his head and grinned in response to what they said. They bragged on how well he was doing and how good he looked, and he smiled.
Diane, the daytime head nurse, said this morning that Dad is progressing every day, and that during baths he holds onto the rails and moves around to help. She said they still don't know how he'll react when they remove the oxygen tube—he'll have had it in for six days on Monday, when they plan to extubate. Hopefully, his airway will stay open and clear, he'll continue to breathe normally, and we'll have seen the last of that.
Posted at 9:57 am by Tony :: link