Mr. V's Journey To Recovery

Well yesterday it was a month ago that my dad was admitted to Memorial Hermann. He has fought the odds and so far so good. I worked this morning again and rushed over to the hospital to visit him. First thing of course was lunch, Chinese food in honor of my dad, he loves Chicken and Broccoli. While my mom and I ate lunch in the lovely waiting area, the ambiance is just exquisite, the receptionist called out Villarreal. Nurse Jen III wanted my mom back there to consent to them changing out his lines and adding new ones. He was going to get a new line to measure his blood pressure more accurately. Also they wanted to put in a new catheter for his dialysis.

Dr. Krugar (Its really Kreiger but to me it sounded like Krugar as in Freddy Krugar) told my mom that my dad is back on his pressers (blood pressure medicine) but they think its because of his dialysis and the infection he got which was not that bad. She explained that when people do dialysis this long sometimes you develop an infection. They are giving him antibiotics for that. I swear I know being in a hospital is supposed to make you better but my dad has had more infections then I could care to count. Oh well they have been able to combat them well with antibiotics so far. They are not too concerned about his blood pressure because his heart has been beating on its own and has been strong. They had to give him blood but only because of the dialysis, Dr. Krugar explained that happens when you are on dialysis for so long. His platelets are doing much better, though. So some good news there. My mom asked her about his bones and what they are going to do about them. She said they are healing on their own just fine actually and they are going to put a brace around his back and torse for his spine. They want him to move around more as in sit up in bed. He is not ready yet but when he is they will put the brace on him. She said his ribs actually found each other and they are healing well. Weird how are bodies can do that. Same with his pelvis but she didn't really elaborate. I was kind of confused by the pelvis comment because he basically has no pelvis it was shattered. My mom said she wasn't sure either so we will probably get clarification later. I have to remind myself they are not really concerned about his bones, its organs then bones. They are not focusing on his liver so she didn't say much about that. We were lucky we got these answers which I understand they are in Trauma and have to move to patient to patient to patient. Like I said I would rather flag them down any day rather then them coming straight to us, normally its bad news when the doctors look for you.

We went to see him later this afternoon and they still had not finished putting in new lines. He was awake but not as responsive he was just doing facial expressions, not much "talking." His blood pressure was low and they took him off the feeding tube again. He is going back to the nutrition through his stomach instead of through his nasal passage and down the esophagus. He was looking around a bunch though looking at all the machines and wires. I told him again believe it or not he was doing much better. I told him he was doing well because he is prevailing against the odds. I told him to keep it up. We watched some law and order in his room. With all the machines, tv and his heating blanket its a sauna in there. I am not menopausal but man it feels like I am having my personal summers (hot flashes) there. Of course my poor dad is freezing because again of the dialysis, when the blood hits the room temperature it cools it and then cools your body when it goes back in. But hey he is urinating more and more and its getting to be a normal color, they want it really really light yellow or clear. We tell him to be patient and that he has a long recovery but he can do it, he has come this far. I always go in seeing my dad happy and positive. I have to be this way for him and show him my strength. Not to say I do not break down and boy did I last week and the week before but now I am good. My mom and I are holding up well. We have to. Mr. V is a tiny bit stronger everyday but he is not out of the woods yet. For now he is on fire! I should put my finger on Mr. V and say *sizzle* "Man dad you are smoking" Thanks so much for your prayers and thoughts.