An update--my dad, and great thanks.

[yewberry]

Last week I posted about my dad and his health, and being very far away.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=8130590#8135288

He was doing very poorly, and I was really, really scared. He'd had a bypass surgery, and then another emergency surgery when his heart stopped. Blood clots, fluid around his heart, one lung collapsed, and he broke his sternum apart. He ended up on a breathing machine and with an external pacemaker. He was kept heavily sedated for what ended up being 9 days--he was so combative and upset that he tried to pull out his pic line and tube if he came to, and he needed to be kept down to allow his sternum some time to knit.

On Friday, they took out the breathing tube while he was still mostly out, and made him sit up. Saturday, they brought him out completely. There was an altercation with a PT worker, but thankfully just one. He knew his name and that he'd had heart surgery.

Dad actually called me tonight. He's mostly coherent, and penitent, and plans to do whatever the docs tell him to do. I'm going to go see him in two weeks, so he's got some time to heal. Maybe we can go and sit by Sebago Lake in Maine and...heck, just sit.

Christ, I was so stunned and grateful to hear his voice. I had to pass the phone to my husband just so that I could catch my breath and cough out my tears and disbelief. My dad is alive, and I think he will be well again.


I can't tell you how much all the support and offers of help from DUers meant (and continues to mean) to me. People I've posted with over the years here, people I've butted heads with, and posters who have never even heard of me made offers of help that really humbled me. Several people offered great advice, some offered to help with the burden of paying for a last-minute ticket, and one even offered to put me up in her home. All of this after never having met me. Imagine that.

I can't ever thank you enough. Sometimes we pull together when someone in the community needs help...but I never thought that I'd be one of those people who others rallied around.

So thanks. Really.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear tofunut...

I'm so glad your beloved dad is doing well!

We never know just when the hand of a stranger will be the one to help us.

I'm glad you got what you needed just then!

I know your dad will be happy to just sit with you, sweetie...

:hug:

[yewberry]

3. Thanks, Peg.

I will be so glad to just sit and talk with him, see him awake and alive. I was so, so afraid that it might never happen again.

Thanks.

[Haole Girl]

2. So glad to hear he's improving!

:hug:

[yewberry]

5. Cripes, me too.

I'm a little dizzy with relief.

Thanks.

[emilyg]

4. Good news.

[yewberry]

6. I have to say, I was afraid we wouldn't have such good news.

I'm just beside myself.

[ThomCat]

7. I'm glad he seems to be doing better.

I hope he keeps improving. :)

I hope you're okay too. :hug:

[yewberry]

8. Thanks, Thom.

I hope so, too.

And I feel *so* much better after having talked to him. It's been literally weeks, and it's been hard. I'm a helluva lot better than I was a couple of hours ago.

:hug:

[Suich]

9. What terrific news, tofunut!

I was just thinking about you earlier and am so glad your Dad is improving! I hope he has a speedy recovery and you have a great visit!

:woohoo:

[yewberry]

10. Geez, thanks so much.

I sure hope so too.

Dang, I'm really looking forward to seeing him.

Thanks!

[auntAgonist]

11. I hope he continues to recover and you

have your Dad for a very very long time. :hug:

aA
kesha

[yewberry]

12. Thanks so much.

I hope so, too.