An Addition to the Cast

OK, so this blog is supposed to be focused on Mom, but Dad's an attention hog so he has decided he just HAD to have issues of his own. Some people just can't let the limelight go to someone else...

I'm being lighthearted, but this is not good news.

Dad called me at 12:40 AM Thursday morning. I saw his name on the caller ID and knew it wasn't a good sign that he was calling so late, but I braced myself for news about Mom. It wasn't about Mom.

"Jed, sorry to call so late, but I think I might be having a stroke."

I was out the door and at their house before I knew what I was doing and found Dad in their kitchen, trying to write his name on a piece of paper. He was noting that he had a lot of weakness and drifting in his right arm and that his right leg could barely support any of his weight. Apparently this all had started just about when he went to bed, but didn't really notice until he was tossing and turning and tried to get up to get a glass of water...and nearly fell over from the weakness on his right side.

I helped him out to my car and drove him to St. Vincent's E.R., and after some quick diagnostic questioning and some thorough information from Dad (it's as if he is intimately familiar with the symptoms of stroke somehow...), they put him on a gurney and wheeled him into the back for a CT scan. The front desk gave me a pager and told me they would buzz me when they had a room for him, and I set up camp in the waiting room.

Hours passed, and I tried to be patient, but a Colbert Report, KISS documentary and countless music videos later I'd still heard nothing, and as daylight started to creep through the window, I decided to be "THAT guy" and go ask for a status update. Good thing I did; they had forgotten I was there. Apparently they figured I went home and neglected to notify me that Dad had landed in a room on the 9th floor about 45 minutes earlier.

I choked back my anger (being exhausted and delirious helped) and quickly found my way to Dad's room, where I found him sleeping at last. I decided to let him rest and found his attending nurse (Celeste), who gave me the lowdown: the CT scan didn't show any damage or blockage, and a sonogram on his carotid arteries came up negative as well, but all symptoms and signs pointed to him having had a small stroke.

I went in to see if he was awake, and he was groggy but talkative. We chatted and he explained that the strength kept coming and going but at the moment was pretty much gone, then showed me the drifting of his arms again. His speech was fine (no slurring) and there was no aphasia...all the symptoms seemed to be concentrated in his right arm and leg. So after I while I left and let him rest.

Now, though it made me uneasy, we decided we wouldn't let Mom know about this turn of events until we knew more information, but I vowed that if he had to stay another night or more, I'd tell her. And now we know more information, and as I write this, Mom is now aware. It was hard telling her and she's of course very worried about Dad, but I've stressed to her that he's OK, and he is (I even called him from her room and let her talk to him to prove it).

I saw him again yesterday afternoon and this morning, and he is involved in a PT, OT and ST battery of his own (just like Mom's!). All signs indicate that with an aggressive short term approach he can expect a substantial recovery, and though the course of that approach still changes now and then, it appears he will be transferred to Maryville as well come Sunday. I was there during one of his OT sessions and he's a bright, willing patient, so I have no doubt he will make full use of the therapy he's given. He's none too thrilled about going to Maryville (and, frankly, Mom's not crazy about being there), but the fact that they'll be together in the same facility is great.

I'm working with the staff to get Mom and Dad as close as possible, whether in the same or adjoining rooms are at least down the hall from one another. And I'm also pressuring the staff to release Mom well ahead of the 60 day period and supplement with homecare once Dad is able to go home (1-2 weeks from the sound of it).

Dad is currently at St. Vincent's in room 905, but come Sunday that will change.

Mom is at Maryville room 214

Both have seemed reluctant about visitation (as you know they can be), but use that information as you will.

I will be calling on several of you reading this in the next week or two to help out with a master plan I have involving car removal, paving, and general cleanup on the exterior of the house. Dad has requested that we leave the inside alone for now and I will respect that request (but I have ideas when he's ready).

Thank you all for your kind words, your love and your support. I know you're there and ready to help, and it means the world to me.