Dad is still in the hospital. The doctors would like to move him to Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Portsmouth, NH but he has been having small strokes everyday. Until he is stable for 24 hours he isn't going anywhere. Yesterday he was doing much better. My brother Paul sent a photo of Dad eating dinner. He was even feeding himself for the first time since the big stroke last Friday. Then an hour later he sent a text that he had another small stroke. When the strokes happen, he doesn't know his name, or where he is. His speech becomes "word salad", a term that the nursing staff uses. The little strokes aren't showing up on a CAT scan. His hip replacement is too new to do an MRI, which would give the doctors a lot more information.
It's hard for me to believe that this photo of Dad, taken five years ago when Jeff and I were moving to North Carolina, is the same man in the photo that my brother texted me last night. I bet those pants would fall off of him now! Five years ago he was still mowing that green grass and trimming bushes and hedges. My Mom's been gone a year now. Dad has been a trooper. He has managed living alone much better then any of us kids ever imagined. I am not sure he will be going back home.
These tough transitions always make us aware of the difficulty of being in two places at once.Good luck to your Dad. Good luck to you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that the mini-strokes are continuing...but he may still pull through. I know you are sure dealing with a lot in your life these days. My best friend is having back surgery as I type this, but she lives in Tacoma, WA so there's no way for me to be with her.
ReplyDeleteI think we are just at that age where our older relatives are slipping from us. Its so hard, no one gets you ready for this. It slammed us hard this past year. I do hope your dad pulls through, thinking about you!
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My heart is with you, Michele. I know these are tough times for you, and it's difficult to be so far away. I'll be thinking of you and wishing you have all you need for whatever lies ahead.
ReplyDeleteAh crap, getting older can really suck sometimes, so sorry for your news.
ReplyDeleteThe distance makes it all just a little bit harder. I hope the best for your dad and for you.
ReplyDeleteI hope your dad recovers from the strokes, Gary's dad had a few small strokes when he was 88 and then lived till he was 94; it can't be easy being so far away
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