Heavy stuff

[classicdrogn]

Dad's been in the hospital this past three and a half weeks after a fall that saw him with a cracked vertebra, along with some other compl9icating factors, age also being among them as he's near ninety. Managing pain has been a balancing act due to that, so medical consent and so on has been upo to me by proxy, though we have talked about it before so I have some guidance on his wishes in that area. Tomorrow, assuming all the specialists involved still agree that going forward is a good idea, he'll be going in for back surgery to stabilize the fracture, to reduce the risk of moving the wrong way and worsening it or damaging his spine, and the doctors are confident but there's always some risk to any surgery, and the margins for error get lower the older the patient is.

I am not a religious person, but I know Dad does have notions about faith that roughly add up to not needing to be in a church to be heard and not needing a preacher if there's any message traffic the other direction, and I know he'd appreciate any well wishes anyone cares to send his way. We could all use some good vibes; it's been a rough month all around. (World issues aside, I was also in the hospital for a couple weeks with some burns on my legs and diabetes-related factors, but am largely recovered and back on even keel at this point.)

[Bob Schroeck]

Of course. Good vibes, prayers, best wishes... whatever you want to call them, you can be sure we'll be sending them your father's way.

[classicdrogn]

Thanks. We'll see how it goes.

[Norgarth]

Good luck.

[robkelk]

Here's hoping the surgery goes well.

[classicdrogn]

Thanks. They just said they were moving him to the surgical theater on the phone, so they'll be starting now.

[Dartz]

All my hopes.

[Bob Schroeck]

<crossed fingers>

[Labster]

Wishing the best for you and your father.

[classicdrogn]

Thanks, everyone. I just talked to the docs again, and the surgery went as well as you could ask. He's been moved to the ICU for observation overnight in the immediate aftermath and recovery, but everything looks to have and be going well.

[Bob Schroeck]

Excellent news. And how is his progress now that it's more than a day later?

[classicdrogn]

... Troubling. Still not responsive long after the anesthesia should have worn off, at last report.

[classicdrogn]

Today's upsate is more encouraging, but he's still pretty out of it even compared to just before the operation let alone a month ago. Still, any positive change is good neews at this point.

[robkelk]

Positive changes are good, assuming he continues getting them. Keeping my fingers crossed for you both.

[Bob Schroeck]

Agreed. Improvement is improvement, however small.

[classicdrogn]

I had a conference call with the doctors in charge of various specialties where Dad is in the hospital, and the general summary is "Get in to visit this weekend any way you can, because next weekend isn't looking likely." This is not unexpected, but still bad news

[Bob Schroeck]

Well, crap. I'm sorry to hear that, Drogn.

[Mamorien]

I had a conference call with the doctors in charge of various specialties where Dad is in the hospital, and the general summary is "Get in to visit this weekend any way you can, because next weekend isn't looking likely." This is not unexpected, but still bad news

What Bob said. Speaking from my own experience, sometimes, there's plenty of advance notice but nowhere near enough actual warning. (It occurs to me that I kept most of my dad's troubles out of this forum. I think I'm ready to share, here or under separate cover, if people be interested.)

[classicdrogn]

Thanks, again. Feel free if you think it will do you good, Mamorien. I hardly specified it was only a thread for my heavy stuff. Please excuse that I'm not likely to be up to offering any comfort or advice for a while, though.

[robkelk]

I had a conference call with the doctors in charge of various specialties where Dad is in the hospital, and the general summary is "Get in to visit this weekend any way you can, because next weekend isn't looking likely." This is not unexpected, but still bad news

Having gone through that three times, and being a person who rarely uses profanity, all I can say is:

Oh, fuck.

Don't go out of your way to keep us posted, CD. You have more important things to do.

[classicdrogn]

Yeah. Pain management only now, which on the plus side does seem to have let him be more comfortable, but generally also means a day or two left at most. Expect me to not say much for a while, I am right out of energy for any kind of social performance.

[Bob Schroeck]

No worries, Drogn. I know what it's like. Take all the time you need.