After another long day of waiting, waiting, waiting at the hospital, I am happy to report that Dad came home today around 5 pm. Yippee! He's so glad to be home and we're glad to have him home. He looks good and is overall doing very well.
Mom, Dad, cousin Becky, friend Gail and I enjoyed a delicious carry out dinner from Cracker Barrel and have been having lots of good fun, laughs and conversation. Truly we are blessed....caring friends...precious family...skilled doctors...health, protection....the list goes on and on. I'm trusting that this finds you blessed and counting your many blessings also.
More later :) and thanks for reading.....
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Long Hospital Day on Tuesday
Just a quick entry before hitting the hay tonight...and hopefully it won't have errors due to my tired state of mind and body.
It's been a long day at the hospital. I was there for a long shift today, leaving only twice in a 9 hour period. Mom and I arrived at 11am and stayed until 8pm. Mom took an afternoon break in the nearby hotel room that my cousin Becky is staying in, but I stayed with Dad or at least in the vicinity of his room, mostly waiting around to not miss the doctor...(the nurse said she'd be a millionaire if she could accurately find a way to tell at what time the doctor would make his rounds....of course, no one ever knows.)
Well, finally I happened upon the doctor when I least expected to see him at 7:30 this evening and was so happy that I had not missed seeing him today. :) Mission accomplished.
Basically Dad did fairly well today....his vitals are good and all that. But he did have some areas of unexpected discomfort. However, once the doctor arrived this evening he was able to suggest something that brought a lot of relief.
Dad is also more confused today than he has been in many weeks. It's slightly disappointing since he's been making such great gain from the stroke, and then today is not doing as well in his word choices and expression. However, the doctor fully expects that this confusion is temporary and a result of the medications and anesthesia in his system. They did a CAT scan tonight simply to double check that all is well - and we do believe the tests will reflect that nothing has changed.
So, tonight Dad remains in the hospital but the doc says that he most likely will be coming home tomorrow. Dad is very eager for this as you can imagine. :)
We sure are grateful for your continued prayers!
Overall, everything is going quite well and we are thankful!
It's been a long day at the hospital. I was there for a long shift today, leaving only twice in a 9 hour period. Mom and I arrived at 11am and stayed until 8pm. Mom took an afternoon break in the nearby hotel room that my cousin Becky is staying in, but I stayed with Dad or at least in the vicinity of his room, mostly waiting around to not miss the doctor...(the nurse said she'd be a millionaire if she could accurately find a way to tell at what time the doctor would make his rounds....of course, no one ever knows.)
Well, finally I happened upon the doctor when I least expected to see him at 7:30 this evening and was so happy that I had not missed seeing him today. :) Mission accomplished.
Basically Dad did fairly well today....his vitals are good and all that. But he did have some areas of unexpected discomfort. However, once the doctor arrived this evening he was able to suggest something that brought a lot of relief.
Dad is also more confused today than he has been in many weeks. It's slightly disappointing since he's been making such great gain from the stroke, and then today is not doing as well in his word choices and expression. However, the doctor fully expects that this confusion is temporary and a result of the medications and anesthesia in his system. They did a CAT scan tonight simply to double check that all is well - and we do believe the tests will reflect that nothing has changed.
So, tonight Dad remains in the hospital but the doc says that he most likely will be coming home tomorrow. Dad is very eager for this as you can imagine. :)
We sure are grateful for your continued prayers!
Overall, everything is going quite well and we are thankful!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Successful Surgery for Dad
I have good news for you regarding Dad's surgery today. And I am so grateful because I know so many of you were holding my Dad up to God in your prayers today. Therefore it really should be no surprise that things went very well. :) Instead of Dad's carotid artery being 70% blocked as we had been told, the artery was actually over 90% blocked, so - wow - are we ever grateful that this surgery happened in time to prevent other problems from developing. Indeed it was a serious situation.
When we saw Dad in his room in ICU we immediately noticed that he looked good and there was a better color to his face than before. What a nice and unexpected benefit; proof of the improved blood flow to that area. Dad was quite clear minded and talkative earlier this afternoon, although in quite a bit of pain, which is expected. By evening Dad was medicated fairly heavily for his pain,a bit more comfortable and quite drowsy. Hopefully he will be able to get good rest tonight.
If all goes well he may be able to return home tomorrow....or the next day. I feel great relief that Dad has crossed this major health hurdle, and continue to hope and pray for things to continue to go well in the days ahead. Thank you so much for your prayers!
When we saw Dad in his room in ICU we immediately noticed that he looked good and there was a better color to his face than before. What a nice and unexpected benefit; proof of the improved blood flow to that area. Dad was quite clear minded and talkative earlier this afternoon, although in quite a bit of pain, which is expected. By evening Dad was medicated fairly heavily for his pain,a bit more comfortable and quite drowsy. Hopefully he will be able to get good rest tonight.
If all goes well he may be able to return home tomorrow....or the next day. I feel great relief that Dad has crossed this major health hurdle, and continue to hope and pray for things to continue to go well in the days ahead. Thank you so much for your prayers!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Prayer
Through this time since Dad's stroke, wonderful friends have expressed their desire to help. I recall friends saying to me in the early days following Dad's stroke, "If there's anything I can do, let me know." I knew that they were referring to anything practical and helpful, useful, things. But my response was almost always, "Just please pray." Because, in this time of physical crisis for my Dad, suddenly everyTHING else took much less of a priority and all I found that I really cared about is him getting better, and it was apparent that to do that requires a touch from God.
So, if you pray......for me, for my dad, for any friend going through a tough time, that is truly the best gift you can give them!
When we pray we are calling on the power of the God who made the universe, the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, which is at work within us and available to us,and far greater than any power here on earth.
Ultimately, God is God and can do as He wishes. But He delights in his children calling on Him, asking Him to 'fix' things. Just as a loving father wishes to give good gifts to his earthly children, so our Heavenly Father longs to give good gifts to us.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Later today we will find out the time of Dad's surgery on Monday and I will pass that along to you so that you can be praying for him specifically during that time.
Thank you friend, for praying!
So, if you pray......for me, for my dad, for any friend going through a tough time, that is truly the best gift you can give them!
When we pray we are calling on the power of the God who made the universe, the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, which is at work within us and available to us,and far greater than any power here on earth.
Ultimately, God is God and can do as He wishes. But He delights in his children calling on Him, asking Him to 'fix' things. Just as a loving father wishes to give good gifts to his earthly children, so our Heavenly Father longs to give good gifts to us.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.
Later today we will find out the time of Dad's surgery on Monday and I will pass that along to you so that you can be praying for him specifically during that time.
Thank you friend, for praying!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Up in the Air
I'm pondering the phrase "up in the air". Things with Dad are definitely 'up in the air'. He's scheduled for surgery one week from today, but the result? Who knows? God and only God knows how he'll make it through. We're staying hopeful and faith-filled....yet truly, who knows the days ordained for each one of us? Again, the only answer is God.
So then, just as it is unfathomable to me how the huge, heavy jet that I will board on Sunday will carry me through the sky at a rapid pace and safely bring me down to a safe landing again, I trust that it will be so.
So it is with God. Though unfathomable to me, God has all our days planned out, all the hairs of our head numbered. He cares for all peoples on the earth; all our needs, cares and concerns are foremost on his mind. This I know to be true.
When things in life are changing constantly, swirling at a rapid pace, feeling out of control, He is trustworthy. He can be trusted and His ways are best.
So, being "up in the air": when God's involved it's not as bad as it sounds. It's actually a great place to be.
So then, just as it is unfathomable to me how the huge, heavy jet that I will board on Sunday will carry me through the sky at a rapid pace and safely bring me down to a safe landing again, I trust that it will be so.
So it is with God. Though unfathomable to me, God has all our days planned out, all the hairs of our head numbered. He cares for all peoples on the earth; all our needs, cares and concerns are foremost on his mind. This I know to be true.
When things in life are changing constantly, swirling at a rapid pace, feeling out of control, He is trustworthy. He can be trusted and His ways are best.
So, being "up in the air": when God's involved it's not as bad as it sounds. It's actually a great place to be.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
My Guitar-Playing Dad
I mentioned that I'd upload a video of Dad and me singing the duet last Sunday night, but unfortunately it is too large to upload to this blog. So, since that didn't work out, I am going to try another. This video shows Dad playing his acoustic guitar on his birthday, October 2, about 6 weeks prior to his stroke. He mentioned just before he played that he's "a bit rusty" because his fingers have lost their callouses. Maybe true, but his rusty is pretty good, don't you agree?
On a very happy note, :) Dad can still play just as well now, even after the stroke. We are so grateful for this!
On a very happy note, :) Dad can still play just as well now, even after the stroke. We are so grateful for this!
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