Thursday PM Update

I just got back home from a very long, exhausting day in the ICU with Dad. Unfortunately, Dad has pnemonia, and is fighting some sort of bacterial infection. They are aggressively treating him with antibiotics in his central line.(definition thanks to the internet)-Central line: A catheter (tube) that is passed through a vein to end up in the thoracic (chest) portion of the vena cava (the large vein returning blood to the heart) or in the right atrium of the heart.
Central lines have a number of different uses. A central line allows concentrated solutions to be infused with less risk of complications. It permits monitoring of special blood pressures including the central venous pressure, the pulmonary artery pressure, and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressures. The central line can be used for the estimation of cardiac output and vascular resistance. The near end of the catheter may also be connected to a chamber for injections given over periods of months. A central line saves having to have frequent small injections or "drips" placed in the arms. Thankfully, this is now in, and will hopefully help out.

Dad is fighting so hard, and is hanging on. I held his hand, and rubbed his forehead most of the day-trying to reassure him that he was going to be okay soon. Do you know how hard this is, when sometimes, even I don't believe he's going to be okay! I do have those not so good thoughts from time to time, and and trying so hard to think positive! I have faith, and I know my Dad. He isn't ready to go yet. He made this quite clear at the beginning of this whole ordeal.

We had the priest come in too. My Dad recived the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick-it was very touching and peaceful. Dad became a little uneasy when the anointing started because I think it scared him, and he thought, okay-this has to be it...there's a priest in here, but I reassured him and told him we just called for some "back up" because right now we need all the help we can get!

As I mentioned above...I spent the majority of the day with Dad, except when they had to do some things to him that I could not be in the room for. During my trips to the ICU waiting room, I was greated with smiles and hellos, I gave the polite smile back. I tried to occupy myself by calling relatives with updates-Hi to my AZ RELATIVES! Reading the blog! I attempting reading magzines, but everything reminds me of my Dad! I can connect him to a lot of things. Plus, it didn't help that the man sitting across from me in the waiting room had a CUBS shirt on! I counted sealing tiles, evesdropped on conversations, and thought about what my Dad would say at a time like this. Let's hurry up and get this done, the Bears are on TONIGHT! Seriously, in his room before all this happened...that's what he was worried about-where can I find WGN and why the HELL aren't the Cubs on here!? Even eating my turkey sandwich for lunch. I thought of how he would laugh and say-there was no need for the tomatoes to be on that. Of course, there were 4 on my sandwich from the hospital cafe. I threw the tomatoes and lettuce out...Dad thought lettuce was only good on BLT's.

He looks ok-looking past the tubes and tape-I still see my Dad-Good color, peaceful sleeping eyes, and big belly under those covers! His rough, rugged hands a bit swollen, and warm, felt strangely good to hang on to.

The beeps and dings of the ICU room made it hard for my eyes not to wander off those numbers on the machines.

I felt cold and alone, even with Dad there. All of us...Carol, Sam, Katy, and Mom-are taking turns with Dad-sitting by his bedside.

We are all trying to comfort him-assure him everything is going to be ok. We take turns sitting by his side. Carol (his girlfriend), comforts him well into the night. We take turns calling the ICU in the early hours for updates-and passing it along the chain. I even felt angry or jealous at times, everyone around me in that waiting was getting "happy news"-except for me.

I go from being ok, to completely losing it. Dad needs us to be strong, and I try not to get upset in his room.

EXHAUSTING, but Dad would have it no other way. He always says If you belive in something-you have the power to make that happen.

Thinking of that brings me to one of his favorite movies

I'll leave you with a happy quote from the movie.

[Archie's at bat and is almost hit by the pitcher's throws, twice] Archie Graham: Hey ump, how 'bout a warning? Clean-shaven Umpire: Sure, kid. Watch out you don't get killed.

*one more thing-Fred and (Waupaca buddies) thanks for the wonderful uplifiting cards-we found at the nurses desk this AM.

Thanks for listening, EVERYBODY! Keep sending the love and prayers!