New Update on Dad posted 10/22/2009 12:05:09 AM | 3 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: dad, stroke, therapy

SnowLynx20

Again, I'm going to apologize: This is a long blog.. but most of it is dialogue that I really wanted to include. And also again, thanks for the thoughts, everybody. Dad is actually doing quite well, all things considered. He was relocated back up to the Oncology floor from ICU on Saturday. His Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapies have started to help him recover from his brain hemorrhage, and he seems to be doing well at those, too. Today he was allowed to stand with the aid of a walker and walk a few steps! He's been very cooperative with the nurses, and they took the restraints off his wrists a couple days ago. I was glad to see those go, it was heart-wrenching every time he woke up and asked if I could untie him. His bruises are healing from the multiple catheter placements, and he seems to be feeling well. They stopped giving him a sedative, and he's been much perkier since. They're working now on getting his sleep schedule back to normal, he's been mostly sleeping days and awake nights.
He started his chemo on Saturday, along with some anti-nausea medications that seem to be working well. For the past few days he's only needed 1 bag of platelets daily, and that's keeping his counts at a satisfactory level. He's also been given a few bags of whole blood. (My comment was that my entire family is going to have to give blood for the next 10 years to repay all this.. and we will, gladly!)
As for the stroke, he is able to move his right side now without much difficulty, though the strength in that hand, at least, has gone considerably down. He can grip, but it's shaky. That's okay- that's what therapy is for. He's still got some loose wiring in the brain (Not that he didn't before, but this is a bit different...), which hopefully will abate some as the bleed is re-absorbed and the swelling goes down. He gets confused easily, and that "reset button" I talked about in the last blog is still evident, though perhaps doesn't click every time he dozes off now. I think he remembers enough to realize he's a little bit lonely now. He's always glad to see people, even when he's not feeling particularly good. I've been in to visit him every day. I don't always stay long, especially if he's tired, but we've had some.. interesting conversations. Today's went a little like this: (We're watching Wheel of Fortune on TV)
Dad: (turning to look at me) "Did I already order the pizza?"
Me: "Um.. no, Dad, I don't think you did."
Dad: "Are you sure? I was sure I ordered it..."
Me: "Well, maybe you did. I don't remember."
Dad: "Huh." (He left it there for a few minutes before turning back to me:) "Are you going to go get it?"
Me: "Um, what?"
Dad: " The pizza. Do you need to go and get it?
Me, taking my cue: "Oh, yeah. I'll have to go get it in a few minutes."
Dad: "Hm. You'll have to stop by the house and get some money, I don't think I have my wallet with me."
Me: "Oh, don't worry about it, Daddy; I've got it this time."
Dad: "You don't have to do that, I can..."
Me, just wanting to end the conversation: "It's okay, Dad, I've got a coupon!"
Dad: "For Crystal Flash? (which, by the way, is a gas station, NOT a pizza place..) Oh. Okay then."
A few minutes later, I got up to leave. Dad: "Going to get the pizza?"
Me: "Yep. I'm gonna go. I'll see you later, Daddy."
Dad: "Okay, squirt. Hey, you're coming back, right?"
That last bit came out sounding so lonely I almost cried. "Yeah, Daddy, I'll be right back."
So I went out into the hall and called Mom to make sure she'd visited today, and she had. She needed me to check in at the nurse's station about some paperwork, so I decided to go back in and have another quick visit.. though I tell you, I was half afraid to walk back into that room without a pizza!
I enter the room, and Dad looks up. "Hey, kiddo! How's it going?"
Me: "Pretty good, Dad, how was your day?"
Dad: "Ah, I dunno. The people came and had me do some things. Got your new wheels?"
Me: "Um.. yep? I'm all set."
Dad: "Great! Need some help getting them home?"
Me: "Nope. I cleaned out my trunk, I've got plenty of room."
Dad: "Wow, you did? You do have plenty of room, then. Putting some in your back seat?"
Me: "Yeah, a couple. I've got it worked out."
Dad: "Good, good." A few minutes pass in companionable silence, while I hope he doesn't ask me where the pizza is. He turns to me again. "So, you're going with us, aren't you?"
Me: "Uh.. I dunno. Where are we going?"
Dad: "To the.. uh.." Here his brows furrow, like something is evading him. "To the.. Kentucky.. Fried Chicken. Thing." (Oh dear lord.. not more food! Can you tell they haven't let him eat for a week?)
Me: "Sure! Sounds great, sign me up."
"Cool! I'll let you know when."
"Sounds good Dad." I visited for another half an hour or so, and he started to nod off a bit so I bid him goodnight. I told him I'd be back tomorrow, and he assured me he'd be there. I made it all the way to the car before I actually did start to cry, hearing echoes in my head.
"Hey... you're coming back, right?"
Yeah, Dad. As often as I can.

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