Here we sit in the NEW Year, and I'm in a fog! I am pretty certain that most (if not all) of our friends and family are aware of my Dad's illness. I thought I would back up and tell the story of how we got to where we are today.
So about 2 days after Christmas, my dad started to get Flu-like systems...body aches, chills, vomiting, and feeling just plain crummy. He found himself not doing a whole lot while our family was all together for the holidays because he wasn't feeling the best. By about Sunday he started to develop a pretty persistent cough. He had complained about a back ache and was really not wanting to heed any of our advice about going to the doctor. Tuesday he woke up and told my mom that he wasn't going to leave the house....or his bed....because he just felt that bad. We all kept pleading with my mom to take my dad to the ER but he said "nah..I will just go to the Dr on Wednesday".
Wednesday morning (1/2/13)rolls around and my dad could barely walk. My mom had to pull him up the stairs to get him to the car because he was so weak. On the way to the ER he told my mom that it seemed "foggy" but it was actually perfectly clear outside. My mom knew at that moment that he was lacking oxygen and needed care ASAP! When he arrived at the hospital he had a BP of 52/37 and was fading quickly. They thought at first that he had congestive heart failure but then did a quick x-ray and discovered that he had pneumonia in BOTH of his lungs. So they started to give him an antibiotic to treat that and he reacted to it so they stopped that process. After about an hour of receiving care they decided to swab for Influenza A...which came back positive. They started a mask that was blowing oxygen at a very high rate into his face to get his levels back up to a normal range. After evaluating his blood work they found that he ALSO tested positive for the Strep virus! One thing the doctor and nurses kept telling my mom was "he is VERY SICK, VERY SICK but we are working to make him better". He ended up spending the night at the local hospital Wednesday into Thursday. By Thursday, the doctor had made the decision that he wasn't really improving and they needed to transport him to Des Moines.
After arriving at the hospital with my mom on Thursday we talked with the nurse. He shared with us that he was a little concerned with his stats. My dad's bp was still pretty low 80/50 and his heart rate was 130. They were waiting for the blood panel to come back before he made any quick assumptions. He shared that they really wanted to make sure that the Strep virus didn't get into his blood stream and begin traveling to the other organs because this could be "a really big problem" if it did. After assessing the blood panel and his vitals shortly after we arrived he felt pretty confident that they strep virus was contained to his lungs and his throat, at that moment. He did share that this strep virus could get into the bloodstream at any moment and cause sepsis. This was a very scary moment for all of us because we just didn't know what the next hour would bring.
(written Monday 1/7/13)
The doctors keep telling us that this wont be a quick fix and we anticipate that this will be a "long row to hoe". Today they have lifted the sedation during the day and he is much more aware. He responds to us by squeezing our hands and looking at us. He works really hard to try and say things but we tell him not to talk because of the ventilator in his throat. He has become very agitated of his ventilator and wants it out....RIGHT NOW!! The doctor is looking at possibly pulling the ventilator tomorrow (Tuesday) and letting him breath on his own. We'll see what tomorrow brings!
(written Tuesday 1/15/13)
I'm sorry that this post if quite choppy! I started this post about a week ago and didn't take the time to finish it. So here I sit a week later with more to post.
My dad is still in the hospital. He is in a general care room at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. He no longer has the ventilation tube down his throat...PTL. He is using the under the nose O2 now and that seems to be working just fine. This will be his 5th day in this "cracker jack box" room. Let me tell you...this room is insanely tiny!
As of today, the doctor is reporting that he believes my dad is fighting 2 types of infections in his lungs. Both of which are very "nasty". I do not know the names of either of them or I would report about them. He is very much aware of what is going on and who everyone is at this time. He responses to all of us and to conversations that are happening around him. He is on oxygen 24/7 and at this time the level of O2 is quite high (8). They want him to be at a 5 before they talk about discharging him. He is very weak and fatigued. With every breath he takes he has a monitor that keeps track of his O2 levels and his heart rate. When the O2 goes below 84% the alarm goes off. A few days ago, when his level was turned down to about a 6, he struggled to keep those numbers up. It took a lot out of him to just breath.
Today the psychological effects of being bedridden for 15 days is settling in. He is getting confused easily and wants to go home...badly!! As would I!!!!!!!!!!!! I pains me know what kind of mental strain this is on my dad. The doctor talked to my mom last night and said that there are signs of improvements...although small..they are there.
Overall, it has been on EXHAUSTING start to a NEW year! Everyone in our family is drained and growing weary of this situation. We know that the road ahead for my dad is going to be long. Our faith and trust in the Lord Almighty has been tested through it all. He has been faithful..though....very faithful to us! We give him glory for that!
Those that find themselves reading our blog, if you could say a quick prayer for my dad, I'd appreciate it. His name is Steve and my mom's name is Ann.
Sorry to ramble. I'm keeping notes...to look back on someday..when we want to be reminded of God's grace and mercy in a trial.
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