My Dad in ICU

So far it's been the weekend from hell, and yet, not quite.

My niece called telling me my Dad wasn't answering the phone. She lives there but had gone to visit her Mom for couple of weeks. I tried, it was true, but I figured he might be at Wallieworld and had forgot his cell phone. After an hour or so (after trying to get a willing neighbor to check on him, house was locked up tight) I jumped in the car with my boy and drove the 180 miles to his house, calling every 10 minutes or so on my cell phone. By the time I got there I was pretty scared what I would find.

What I found was him on the bathroom floor, cold as ice yet breathing. This being a small town and I wasn't familiar with his cordless phone I called City Hall using 1411 to get an ambulance. Apparently my Dad didn't feel it was important to mention his pneumonia when I talked with him the day before, that or he didn't know it was pneumonia (he's the type that doesn't like to admit how uncomfortable he is, exmilitary and a vetran of 2 wars :major ). Between pneumonia and dehydration he had gone down for something like 8 hours before I showed up. The bacteria had pretty much spread throughout his system.

It's been a scarey day, but he's on antibiotics and getting lots of fluids, suffering from muscle trauma laying on the floor without moving (and concious the whole time more or less) with his kidneys just about shut down taking care of the toxins.

The other side, HE'S ALIVE!!! He could even make a 100% recovery, though the doctors still out on that one. When I think how it could have gone...

In a case of repairing the barn after the horses were gone I've been distributing keys and collecting phone numbers from family in the area. I'm typing this on his computer.

 

I hope everything turns out ok.

 

Close call, Bill, glad you got there in time! Pneumonia is tricky, it can be a very dangerous disease, if not treated, and sometimes the symptoms are not so bad, so you might not realise how serious your "little cold" is till the fever hits the ceiling.

Good luck, and take care! Many hopes for a speedy recovery for your dad!

 

Best wishes for a full recovery. Dunno if this would apply or not, but one of the services we offer here at work is Helplink Personal Emergency Response System. (yeah, the old 'I've fallen and Can't get up ' commercials) I don't think we reach as far as wehre your dad is, but I am sure that there is something of that nature there. Even if he is not an invalid, it is good for things like that. He could hit the button, and they would ahve sent a keyholder or ambulance or such. If he is normally health and active, maybe not applicable, but figure that it may be worth mentioning.



~C

 

Sorry to hear this. Good thing you got there when you did!

The key thing is a good idea - all my family have keys for each other's houses, just in case. Young or old, health can sometimes go south really quickly and unexpectedly.

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery for your father!

 

He sounds like a tough SOB, my best wishes for you both Bill.

 

I pray a quick recovery for your Dad, Bill.

 

I am glad your instincts told you to go there to check things out. Finding your Dad that way had to be scary.
Prayers out to him for a speedy recovery.

 

Sorry to hear about the unexpected travel!! But fortunately you listened to the gut and took off!! Glad to hear you got there in time, and I hope him a speedy and full recovery!!

Roger

 

Hope your dad has a full and speedy recovery.

 

Bill - sometimes you just know when you've got to go check on someone. I hope your Dad has a full and speedy recovery

 

Hey great thinking on your part Bill, it could have been so easily overlooked with tragic results. Hope your Dad makes a full recovery.

 

Sorry to hear that your Dad is very ill. Pneumonia is definitely not fun. Had a few close calls with that, myself. I'm glad that you followed your instincts and found him in time.

Good luck, and best wishes to your father and yourself, Bill.

 

The pnuemonia was a preliminary diagnosis, and was wrong. He had a sinus infection that had gotten into his bloodstream with catastrophic results. He looks like he's snapping back. He's already gotten in trouble with his male nurse for helping himself move around for the bathroom and whatnot, he swears everyone was lining up to check out his equipment when they were hooking him up.

His face had gone red from the infection, it's starting to peel. He can feel his right leg, but can't move it, probably because of how he was laying when he went down and didn't move. Hope that comes back, he really needs to be able to drive. He's a good driver even if he is getting up there.

It's funny, I was major league depressed, but not since this happened. Haven't had the time, and happy to have my Dad still around. I don't expect him to be here long since my Mom died last year, but I have hopes, and so far he has had a good attitude.

Thanks for all the kind words, it's nice to have a place to relax and unload.

 

Gotta love that Dad of yours Bill, great to hear that he is recovering. Nothing like a dose of reality to bring us back to what really matters. Hope his has a complete recovery, and you have many more years with him.

 

Well good to hear it's not as bad as first thought. Best wishes to you both. I sympathies with you, found my mother after a stroke (alive), scary non the less.

 

Good to hear that Bill

 

Good to hear he is starting to recover, Bill

 

This gave me a good laugh. Sounds like your Dad has a sense of humor and is on his way to getting better. Glad to hear it!

 

Glad to hear that your dad is already starting to get better.

 

Thank you all again, stef infections are no joke. I really don't think he'd be here if I'd been a couple of hours later, but with antibiotics it's no big deal. Funny how that works sometimes.

I'm home, he's still in ICU, but I suspect that is a formality (it really was touch and go when he arrived). I expect a long stay at the hospital trying to get that leg back. Since he retired from the military he has excellent health insurance. Guess I better keep the car in good shape, I expect to put several thousands of miles on it in the next month or so.

 

Glad to hear that your dad is slowly recovering, Bill. Don't forget to look after yourself as well. Take care.

 

Well, I help him check out yesterday, took a day off work to do it (the boy too). Got his mail, restarted his mail, got his dog out of the vets boarding, and went grocery shopping so he wouldn't have to move much, and then fixed a steak that night before I drove home. He's sore all over, one of his legs and feet are swelling (sciatic nerve damage). I figure I was up around 22 hours straight, got 3 hours sleep, and drove home. My neice is coming home (his) to keep an eye on things.

I'll worry about him some, but a good outcome.

 

Great news Bill your dad is a lucky man to have you!
Now it's time to catch up on some rest and take care of yourself.

 

Good news, yes a good outcome thanks to you, lucky man to have a son like you, take care.

 

Great to hear your Dad is home now Bill. Recovery is always faster in the comfort of your own place.

 

That's good news, Bill. Hope he recovers fully.

 

Glad your Dad's on the road to recovery, Bill.

 

Congratulations Bill, glad to hear that your Dad is recovering, don't know whether it is easier being the one who is sick, or the care giver. Both have there own unique pain, so I am glad for you both, and Thanks for giving us an update.

 

crap in life always seems bad until someone close to you has health issues... it makes everything else seem petty... my father had gotten in to a motorcycle accident at 90MPH on his Harley (I'm more of a crotch rocket guy) and he went head first into an embankment (he didn't have a full helmet on, just one that looks like one of those little Jewish hats... Yamikahs? SP???

man, I thought crap was bad until I heard my dad might die.... I felt so bad for being angry about this petty crap that was going on... I found out he was going to live, with mild brain damage, but living.... I thought I, ME, A GUY was about to cry..... it makes you really think.... you did the right thing... You are truly a hero

 

Me, I'm no hero, just doing what I have to do.

A lot of folks do it without having anyone to talk to, this makes me lucky. Both times when my Mom and brother died I've found it is possible to cry and drive.

I am lucky, at least this time. I have my Dad a little longer. I don't want to be the elder of my family yet.

 

well if you say your not a hero, then your not, but I say you are... A hero isn't someone who saves a million lives... you saved your father... what could be better?

 

Glad to hear your dad is recovering at home now. Make sure to see to yourself as well, Bill.

 

Your right bill.....If you hadn't driven that 180 miles?

Isn't life unfair and unexplainable at times.....a military vet who has survived 2wars, and it nearly comes all undone from a blood infection!

Goes to show you are rich beyond your dreams if you have your health!
Money can buy the best doctors, but maybe not your health back!

I have no doubt that you saved your dad's life mate.....your a Hero in his eyes!

Tell your dad that he must make a full recovery....nitecrawler orders!!


Regards