Unfortunately, there's not much of an update today. We saw two doctors today, but no new update. One of the doctor's has been very kind (his name is David), but pretty matter of fact! He seems to be very careful with my mom and sincere, but doesn't lie to us either. My mom is really struggling today - I think the realization that Dad might never come back to us is starting to sink in.
Although he is more awake now, his mental state seems to get worse. He is having trouble recognizing the family now. Dusty and I had a very funny conversation with him today - we had him laughing and everything. But, the next minute he cries. Sometimes he seems to know who we are (like his daughter or my husband) but he has trouble recalling our names. He seems to call everyone Tiffany. Today he called my mom Pam. He called Dusty Greg. But, minutes later he knows all our names! So, we just are patient with him and love him with all we have!!! Today my mom's cousins came to visit. He said he knew who they were, but I'm not sure he did. He might have recognized them, but wasn't sure of their names. And, I got him to hold my hand today for a while - he doesn't usually like us touching him. So, I savored that minute for as long as I could!! I just sat by the side of him and held his hand. I miss my dad!!
He is still in Neuro ICU - sounds like they'll keep him there until they need the bed. They like that he is getting 1 on 1 care and attention, so that's good!
Anyways, I will update you all tomorrow. Hopefully there will be something new to write about. Thanks again for everything! Keep mom and dad in your prayers - mom could use them tonight :). We love you all.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday Update
Well, Dad is about the same today as he was yesterday - not much change. He has been more awake, and today he was able to sit in a chair (something he hasn't done for almost 2 weeks). The nurse was concerned about his feeding tube - he thought it was clogged and that they might have to put a new one in (which I know HURTS), but he was able to get the clog out so that's good. I don't think dad's had real food for 2 weeks either! We talked with the doctor yesterday and still no update. Dad is still very confused. The doctor told my mom today that they feel like they have a lead on what's wrong, but don't want to discuss it with us until they know for sure. I guess they know how frustrated we are with "wrong" assumptions!
I cannot begin to tell you all how grateful we are for your love and concern. As my mom read all the comments left from yesterday, tears ran down her face. I am convinced that she has the BEST ward in the world - and I have the BEST friends!!! I hope you all know how much we love you. THANK YOU.
I cannot begin to tell you all how grateful we are for your love and concern. As my mom read all the comments left from yesterday, tears ran down her face. I am convinced that she has the BEST ward in the world - and I have the BEST friends!!! I hope you all know how much we love you. THANK YOU.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Long Update
Well, here is the past 2 1/2 weeks in a nutshell:
On Saturday, August 8th we took my dad to the AF Hospital emergency room - the day before he was just acting funny and not making a lot of sense. He was having a hard time remembering things. Friday night he got up at 2am and was ready for work. My mom was scared and called Dusty and I over Saturday morning. We decided to take him to the ER - much to his pleas of NO!
Well, they did some blood work and a CT scan and sent him home. I went over Sunday with them and he seemed ok, still a little off.
Monday morning my mom took him in for an MRI with his neurologist. They sent him home. The doctor called my mom later that night and said they hadn't found anything. Well, that night things fell apart. My dad was up all night and wasn't making any sense at all. So, the next morning Dusty and my mom took him to Utah Valley Regional Hospital where the admitted him. Well, he spent 2 weeks there - and, they basically found nothing. During the 2 weeks they ran just about every test - CTs, MRIs, spinal tabs, EKGs, EEGs - still nothing. But, he was going down hill fast. At first he was still able to get up and walk around - he was just talking crazy. But, after the first 3 or 4 days, he went into almost a coma. He wasn't moving or talking. This past Monday, he started talking again, but it's very hard to understand him because he mumbles and still doesn't make sense. It's almost like he has Alzheimer's - but, the doctors don't think that's it because it came on to fast.
Well, Tuesday Dr. Call talked with me and my mom and thought that my dad was possibly having seizures - so, he wanted to move him to Intermountain Medical Center where they have more equipment to monitor him longer. So, Wednesday we moved him up to Murray. Well, we basically feel like we are back to square one. The doctors there don't believe he's having seizures, so they are running some of the same tests as before. VERY FRUSTRATING! We are so discouraged right now because we feel like we have lost him and we don't understand why???
That is where we are right now. I will post every day the latest update (if there is any). Please feel free to check back anytime. We love you all and appreciate all the prayers on behalf of our dad. We are just ready for him to come back to us!
On Saturday, August 8th we took my dad to the AF Hospital emergency room - the day before he was just acting funny and not making a lot of sense. He was having a hard time remembering things. Friday night he got up at 2am and was ready for work. My mom was scared and called Dusty and I over Saturday morning. We decided to take him to the ER - much to his pleas of NO!
Well, they did some blood work and a CT scan and sent him home. I went over Sunday with them and he seemed ok, still a little off.
Monday morning my mom took him in for an MRI with his neurologist. They sent him home. The doctor called my mom later that night and said they hadn't found anything. Well, that night things fell apart. My dad was up all night and wasn't making any sense at all. So, the next morning Dusty and my mom took him to Utah Valley Regional Hospital where the admitted him. Well, he spent 2 weeks there - and, they basically found nothing. During the 2 weeks they ran just about every test - CTs, MRIs, spinal tabs, EKGs, EEGs - still nothing. But, he was going down hill fast. At first he was still able to get up and walk around - he was just talking crazy. But, after the first 3 or 4 days, he went into almost a coma. He wasn't moving or talking. This past Monday, he started talking again, but it's very hard to understand him because he mumbles and still doesn't make sense. It's almost like he has Alzheimer's - but, the doctors don't think that's it because it came on to fast.
Well, Tuesday Dr. Call talked with me and my mom and thought that my dad was possibly having seizures - so, he wanted to move him to Intermountain Medical Center where they have more equipment to monitor him longer. So, Wednesday we moved him up to Murray. Well, we basically feel like we are back to square one. The doctors there don't believe he's having seizures, so they are running some of the same tests as before. VERY FRUSTRATING! We are so discouraged right now because we feel like we have lost him and we don't understand why???
That is where we are right now. I will post every day the latest update (if there is any). Please feel free to check back anytime. We love you all and appreciate all the prayers on behalf of our dad. We are just ready for him to come back to us!
Thank You!
A good friend of mine suggested I start a blog for my dad so that people had a way of keeping up with his "journey" - I guess that's what we will call this sudden illness. I think that it will help my mom, myself, and my sister so that people can be kept informed without us having to relive this extremely difficult struggle! We feel so much love and appreciation to all of you - especially our family - who have helped us get through this.
Thank You!
Thank You!
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