10 October 2007

All about the glamor and fun

So Dad had a stroke.

I dunno when. He woke up this morning talking all goofy. I went over to drop off the dog and mom told me he had awoken at 6 and hadn't been talking right since.

I waited til he came out of his bedroom and started trying to talk to him. I was heartened that he could walk, move both arms, talk. But it was all weird scrambly talk.

Mom said she didn't know what to do. I suggested the ER but she didn't think he would go. She thought he would get angry. His frustration level has been pretty low lately.

I drove toward work. Was bugged. Had to do SOMETHING. I called Dad's cardiologist and had him call Dad. The doc advised going to the ER, so Dad agreed. Mom called me. I flipped my car around and we all met up over there.

He just couldn't get the right words out. The triage nurse asked him how much he weighed. He said 650. He knew he was supposed to reply with a number, but he couldn't match up the right one (he weighs about 175 lbs).

So they admitted him, he got a CAT scan, an MRI, etc. My sister came down from an hour north, my brother drove 3 hours. I have the best family. They are rocks.

You may know how ER time goes. I hope you don't. Hard chairs. Some judge show blaring on the TV in the corner, way too loud. A lady with a colostomy bag in her lap that she shows to everyone who passes by. A schizophrenic woman, standing in the corner, crying. A man in work clothes holding an ice pack to his head. Hours pass.

They get him up to the medical floor. He wants to leave but my brother makes him swear he will stay (he left against medical advice when he was there yesterday).

We visit him up there. He is still scrambly but surprisingly strong. The nurse asks him to raise his feet. He lifts both legs from the waist, leaves them hanging there in midair for the longest time like a Pilates champ.

It's funny but my prime feeling is of gratefulness. When the triage nurse was doing (another) medical history, the answer to everything was no. No diabetes, no cancer, no asthma, nothing. An 89-year-old in pretty much perfect health. How many people can say that? I know a lucky star when I see one.

21 comments:

ByJane said...

I'm thinking about you and your dad...

Anonymous said...

It's hard to see the ones you love in this condition. Just remember to enjoy the time you have left with him. :o)

Anonymous said...

Yikes. I'm glad you can see the (teensy bit) of humor and irony in this, but I'm sorry that your family has to deal with yet another issue. Sending hugs.

mar said...

lots of love & prayers. you were all in my thoughts last night.

super des said...

I'm sorry to hear that. Thinking about you guys.

Anonymous said...

I find it amazing that you have such gratefulness :). Definitely thinking of your family.

Jhianna said...

So glad you found a way to get him to the ER - and kudos for doing it in a way that gave him the choice. I'm also thinking of you and your family.

Kizz said...

The ER was so the right thing to do and as soon as you can after the stroke. Good on you for figuring out a way to convince him it was the way to go. Oh, ER time, I live in NYC, the ER is nothing if not an adventure wherever you live but we've got more people so your chances scoot up for seeing something wackadoodle.

Anonymous said...

I will add my thoughts and blessings to the list.

Hang in there.

meno said...

89? Damn, he's in great shape.

I hope the speech improves though. Your family is awesome.

claire said...

holy crap is that scary. i hope things are better this afternoon. keep us posted...

Anonymous said...

yikes.

You're lucky to have such a great family. :)

*hug*

Anonymous said...

Hugs, suebob. I know this must be really hard.

LittlePea said...

It must have scary for all of you. I'm sending thoughts and prayers your way Suebob!

Anonymous said...

Oh Suebob you've been through it lately. I'm thinking of you and your family and sending good thoughts.

Count Mockula said...

I'm sorry, Suebob. I can't imagine how difficult this must be. My thoughts are with you.

BetteJo said...

My dad had a stroke, 2 actually. Pretty tough stuff but you keep after your dad to let the doctors take care of him!
Will be thinking of you and your family - sending good thoughts and a few prayers as well.

Suzanne said...

Suebob, I am so glad that you got your dad to the ER. Calling his doctor was a brilliant plan. And I am even more glad that he is stable enough that you were able to describe the characters in the ER. Hang in there, and keep your wonderful sense of humor.

Anonymous said...

When I was a nurse I saw many fundamentally healthy elderly people like your dad bounce right back from that kind of minor stroke. Take heart... he sounds like the bouncey type.

Anonymous said...

Add me to the list of those thinking of you and your family. You do have an awesome family.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Suebob. I'm so sorry to hear it was a stroke. Glad he is mostly doing OK though, based on your most recent post.

Let me know if there's anything I can do from here, other than send prayers and good vibes.

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