Can you guys spare some good vibes for my Dad?

[davsand]

He's very ill. He passed out in the car on the way to an appointment with his cardiologist on Monday and my mom drove him to the ER while he was unresponsive. He's in congestive heart failure and the Docs say he's stable but VERY sick. Right now it is a balancing act to keep his heart and kidneys functioning under the burden of all that retained fluid while they get it drained out of him. He's in an intensive care unit and they are doing as much as they can for him.

Yesterday they told us they had found fluid in his lungs and they were very worried about pneumonia. This morning they have done a followup chest xray and some cultures and now they think that fluid is not an infection of any kind (very good news) and they are optimistic because his oxygen levels are holding steady. The Heart Docs are stressing that he is very sick, but they are also talking about what they want to do "once he feels better."

He doesn't appear to be in a huge amount of discomfort, and his breathing seems to be getting a bit easier. Right now it is wait and see, and any energy, vibes, or good wishes you can spare for him would be a huge help.

I am spending time in the office this morning and at the ICU this afternoon--that is pretty much how this week has gone. Hubby is doing a great job holding the household together, but I have GOT to get to the grocery store sometime in the near future.



Laura

[I Have A Dream]

1. I will definitely send light and energy his way, Laura.

(In a way that he can handle.) I wish that I were there to help you with the groceries; you shouldn't have to be dealing with the mundane when something like this is happening. :(

:hug:

[davsand]

9. Oddly, the mundane becomes a sort of anchor.

I have been pretty much either at work or in the hospital with Dad this week. The mundane stuff is almost a comfort because it isn't emotionally charged and it isn't terribly demanding. I had a terrible time at work trying to do some fairly detailed work yesterday --but today was a lot easier.

I did make it to the store and I got home early enough to make dinner and eat with the family. Kev has taken our daughter out with him to the sign-up meeting for her summer softball. (I guess we probably will find out tonight if we are coaching again this summer--nobody knew for sure a couple of weeks ago.) I am actually at home ALONE with nobody needing anything and no requirement for stoic behavior. Both those have been an issue this week.

I took tomorrow out of the office and will get my child off to school, take a shower and maybe spend some time with my husband before I go back to the ICU.

I wish you were here too, Dream. Not because I want you to do work but just to have another friend nearby.

:hug:


Laura

[Celebration]

2. yes, definitely

He is in my prayers--

Also, if he is agreeable, you can try holding an orgone accumulator on top of his head. I mention that because this is precisely the same issue my father in law had, and for some reason this caused him to flush all fluids out of his system. It was kind of crazy.

Here are the directions (again)--

[davsand]

10. I have never heard of this before!

I have to look and see if I have any of the old glass spice bottles left. Usually I have been buying spices by the bags at my local whole food mart. I find I throw less away doing that. I had a horrible problem that I'd end up with ALL these little containers of stale spices. I think I may have some Saffron in the freezer that is in glass--I'll have to look.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Dad seemed a little perkier this afternoon when I finally got to the hospital. He was able to talk to me for a short while and that is a big improvement over yesterday when he was pretty much out of it most of the time. I do think you all helped today with your support, and I hope he's even better tomorrow.

Thanks for caring!


Laura

[MorningGlow]

3. Of course, Laura

Sending healing energy to your dad and supportive energy to you and your family members. You'll get through this just fine. :hug:

[davsand]

13. Thank you so much!

We will get through this, you are right. Part of the reason we will is because of all the love and support we have.

My dad is an amazing man. He has never gone out of his way to hurt anyone and he is the guy that will do anything he can to help out somebody in need. Literally, he was on the way to the hospital to check in for his second open heart surgery and he helped some woman load her husband's wheel chair into the van when the shuttle came to take them all to the hospital...

He apologized to his nurse today when she came to change his IV. He apologized to the volunteer EMT's when he had a heart attack during the college playoff games and they came to take him to the hospital. It bugs him terribly to have anyone go out of their way for him and sick as he is right now, he's still worried about it. When I left he was worried that my family had missed too many meals this week with me there at the hsopital.

My dad is not a saint but he's an amazing person. If there Is such a thing as good karma I'd think he's gotta have a pretty good buildup by now.


Laura

[liberalnurse]

21. Your Dad is a good soul.

Nurses love such patients. :hug: :loveya: O8)

We think about our patients when we are not there with them, embrace the families, cry, laugh, sacrifice and empathize straight from our heart to theirs and yours.

:loveya:

[rumpel]

4. Certainly

and I hear you.

My Mom was able to breathe and eat the moment they drained 2 liters of fluid, so I hope your Dad is feeling much better by now, too.

Much light & healing energies for your Dad and smooth scheduling and strength to you and your family.

and a little :grouphug:

[davsand]

12. They have not talked about anything other than drugs to remove that fluid so far.

I know that sometimes they do go in and use a needle to drain fluids, but so far they have not been talking about that. I suspect that if his kidney DO start to falter that will be the next suggestion. In some ways I think it might be easier on him if they DID just go in and drain a bunch off--but it just makes me flinch to think about how it would hurt...

:scared:

They have a kidney doc coming in to evaluate Dad's kidney function. We should know more about that tomorrow.


Laura

[rumpel]

17. The lung doc came

with a little portable machine to drain her fluids...

I guess at a certain age our kidneys are susceptible to conk out, or "take a break". My mother's kidneys for the longest time were in a danger zone - but voila. She is 81, a young 81, by looks and mind. She has been through several dialysis, too. Hang in there - we are much tougher and stronger than we think.

[stellanoir]

5. Oh Laura of course

Great strength and love to your family.

:grouphug:

[davsand]

14. Stella, I do love you so!

I WISH I could sit down with you on the stoop and share a glass (or two) of wine. Sometime it will have to happen.

Thank you for your support (now and all the other times!)

:hug:

Laura

[SeattleGirl]

6. Light and good vibes to you Dad, Laura.

And also to you and your family.

:hug:

[Dover]

7. Sending love and strength davsand,

Is he awake and aware at all?

:hug:

[Grateful for Hope]

8. Sending healing light to your Dad, Davsand

:hug:

[Proud_Lefty]

11. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad

I'm sending lots of light his direction and yours. wishing you the very best.

[The Straight Story]

15. Will do and a kick for him (nt)

[Lucinda]

16. Absolutely Laura

Thank you for letting us help.

[villager]

18. good vibrations heading toward ya...

Best to you, your family -- and your dad!

[Why Syzygy]

19. Absolutely, Laura ..

I hope he feels much better every day. It's good they have an optimistic prognosis.
It's wonderful that you can be there for him. It sounds like you're taking care of yourself too!
Brava! Bless you all.

[Silver Gaia]

20. Healing light to your Dad, Laura, and love and strength to you and your family...

May this day find him much improved and feeling better.

[Callie McAllie]

22. our thoughts are with you

hope it all works out well for everyone

:hug:

[davsand]

23. Profound apologies, thank you, and an update

First off, I want to apologize to everyone that has offered love and support that i have not replied to individually. I was working to try and do that last night, made it about halfway thru and got interrupted to do spelling homework with my 10 year old. We got the homework done, but I fell asleep and never got back here to finish what i wanted to do. I am so very sorry I didn't get to reply to each of you--I wanted to very much. I can never tell you all what your support means.

Thank you. Thank you to everyone. They actually got Dad out of the bed today for part of the day and they let him sit in a chair. He seemed much stronger, and more alert and I am convinced your love and energy helped him.

His kidneys are holding up so far, and he is dropping those extra fluids at an amazing rate. He has a long way to go, still, but he is improving. He is still on all the IV's, but so far they seem to be working! He's eating a bit and he's awake for longer and longer periods. His breathing is improving and his heart rate seems to have stabilized somewhat.

If you can spare it, please keep up the vibes just a bit longer! He's on the mend!!!!



Laura

[Dover]

24. wonderful!! sticking with you and your dad....love to you all...n/t