Stahlke Adoption

Sandwich Generation

Youngsters and oldsters. Lots of concerns. Many thanks for all your prayers.

Last Monday, my father developed a high fever, bad cough, and poor vital signs. It all developed in a matter of six hours. The doctor and nurse asked us about a DNR order, and the family had to make a decision between hospitalization and hospice. Because my father has reacted so badly in the past to medication (days of delirium and violent behavior), we went with hospice.

The hospice team gave him an oral antibiotic and Tylenol, and his body has responded well. As of yesterday, his temperature broke and his vital signs have normalized. Last night, I asked my sister to remind him of his orthopedic surgeon's comment last spring in the hospital:

"You are one tough dude!"

Dad smiled and laughed for the first time in days.

posted by Stahlkes @ 12:39 PM