Stahlke Adoption

My Dad

So much has happened since I last wrote about my father, that I hardly know where to start. Here are the events with a broad brushstroke:

Dad returned home from the rehab hospital on Monday, January 28. Less than a week later, on February 2, he was dizzy from the flu and sat down hard into his wheelchair. Even though he didn't actually fall, his leg broke an inch or so above the right knee. Surgery was required, and my mother and sister had told me that any more surgeries would mean either me or my brother coming to Virginia to help with postop care.

I booked a flight that night and arrived in Virginia early on Sunday evening. My father underwent surgery the next morning, which lasted seven hours instead of the estimated 2-5 hours. He had cardiac trouble in the operating room, and on Tuesday morning suffered a major heart attack. He then went through a heart catheterization and stent, which repaired the blocked artery, and then moved to the cardiac ICU. My brother arrived from Colorado that night, having booked his flight and traveled all on the same day. When my brother arrived, Dad squeezed his hand, which was the only sign all day that he was aware of his surroundings. The next morning we got very worried again when Dad ran a fever, but it abated about noon that day.

On that Tuesday and Wednesday, my mother discussed possible DNR ("do not resuscitate") orders four different times with my siblings and me. Fortunately, we had a written copy of my father's wishes that he had signed several years ago; also, on those two days (and since) he never needed to have his heart shocked with paddles or CPR.

Since that difficult time on February 4-6, Dad has very slowly improved. His blood pressure has stabilized, his temperature has not gone above 100, he has awakened from sedation, and as of last Thursday he no longer requires breathing and feeding tubes. I returned home about a week ago.

Signs of pneumonia are still very present, and the doctors are very cautious about his prognosis. I did hear today, however, that Dad will be moved soon to a "step-down" floor, which is a level of care half-way between the ICU and a regular hospital room.

posted by Stahlkes @ 8:01 PM