Wednesday August 15, 2007
I was able to return to the hospital this morning for a few hours before I had to bring back the car I rented to go there. He was still asleep and intubated, and since they weren’t doing the initial ‘let the family come back and see him’, he wasn’t covered up as much and I could see how many wires and tubes he had coming out of him. That was a bit hard, but at the same time, his hand was warmer today and looked more like his hand. I think he might have looked so yellow because I was seeing the tan without the pink under it to make it the typical color.
He had an uneventful night, which is the best we can hope for at this point. He was still bleeding, but it was managable at this point. The nurse seemed pretty positive. Every time I spoke, he stirred just a little bit, even trying to move his mouth after I told him I loved him. His eyes fluttered open for a moment and some alarms went off (I assume him waking was causing stress because he was feeling the pain), and I decided it would be better to leave because I was having a hard time not talking to him and they wanted him to rest. I think they are going to try and pull the intubation tube out today, and they had been manually moving him some while he was sedated. (I am guessing to keep clots from forming or something like that…whatever the reason is that you are supposed to get up and move after surgery, but since he can’t do it, they are doing it for him).
His nurse gave me a big hug before I left since my mom and the endless stream of visitors he and mom have had over the last few days wasn’t there right then. She was just the best. She was reassuring and made me remember why I have such a deep respect for nurses.
Evidently, I missed my mom and SIL by minutes. They are there now and there have been people from the church and extended family in the same steady stream we have seen since he went into the hospital.
I am off to ds’ OT appointment now, and hope to be back on the computer (and not doing another emergency run to the hospital) later tonight to post any updates.
edited to add an early evening update: He will stay on the vent overnight again. He is responsive. When mom asked him how he was doing his lifted his hand and made the “so-so” gesture. The nurse said “no, you’re doing great!”. He lifted his hand again and did the “so-so” gesture again to insist he was not doing “great”. Arguing with the nurse even without a voice. lol.
They are continuing to give him blood, so those of you who can donate, this is a friendly reminder of how important it is to do so. It is helping keep my dad alive.
Praise the Lord for your dad making it through this rough time so far. I know your family is still worried. Sounds like your dad is tough and will do well. I will continue to pray. I know when my dad had his surgery, the hardest thing was seeing the man that could “do anything” look so vulnerable. Take care of each other and update when you can. How was Zane’s day at school? (((((Jennifer)))))