Good Thoughts Requested for Big D

I'm at the hosptial today, while Big Dad has a triple bypass. I wrote about Big Dad when he had a stroke several months ago.  Big Dad, Jim, is my unofficial dad, or as someone said, my father-of-choice.  (Sorry I can't link to the original post--the kiosk software that the hosptial uses won't let me open more than one window at a time.  I'm just thankful for the access.).  Anyway...Big D. recovered nicely from his stroke, and from the second one he had a few months later.  I saw him for his birthday, in late July, and he was fine--looking for library gossip and bitching about not being able to find the right shade of white paint for his front room. 

Sunday morning I got a call from Carol, my co-"sister," saying that Big D had had a heart attack Saturday afternoon and that he was in the hospital.  I visited with him yesterday, and he was amazingly calm about the whole ordeal, and looking pretty good.  I'm glad I came in to be with him this morning--he was a lot more anxious, but philosophical, nonetheless.  And positive--planning what he was going to do when he got home (not vacuuming--no vacuuming for six weeks!  I guess I know how I'll be helping out). 

So, here I am in the cardiac surgery waiting room, listening to some other family's discussion (what will medicare cover, will mom eat right after she gets home....), and wishing I could turn the TV off (the pink-jacketed volunteer appears to be quite invested in the drama, so I'll not bother her about her one perk of service).   Carol, and Big Dad's son, Jim, will be in later this morning, but for now, I'm representing for Big D. 

Comments

[Matthew]

All of the patients that I have seen in over a decade and a half in the RN biz who were well enough to discuss going home did. If you make it through the cutting and pasting of blood vessels (r click on leg ctrl -x, r click on heart ctrl-v) and the next 6 to 12 hours post surgery you are in great shape.

So tell him to hold his pillow to his chest when he coughs, but don't suppress the coughs it keeps things moving around inside- that's always good. And he'll be at home showing off his scars and setting off the metal detectors at the airport with the wires in his sternum in no time.

I'm still doing a couple of decades on my beads just in case, its the Catholic in me.

[rochelle]

He came through the surgery just fine, although the next day and half will be "crucial." While I wouldn't call him "alert" he acknowledged all of us when when we went to see him.

The volunteer finally turned the TV off--but I got a solid three hours of ER and other Lifetime-type dramas.

[Joy Weese Moll]

Sending healing energy in your direction.

--Joy, who also prefers hospital vigils sans TV

[Ankah]

http://rochellejustrochelle.typepad.com/copilot/2005/03/night_at_the_er.html

Sending positive thoughts and white light for BD.