The phone rang at 2 A.M. I've been up writing about Cuban coffee and South Beach and other alluring Miami things for an assignment. I've had to squeeze my work in while others sleep. Others like H., Figgy and Sug.
I knew it would be the ICU. It was the nice young resident. After I left tonight at about 9:20, they put the line in Dad to give him the drug to bring up his blood pressure, but it did not work. His BP had now plunged more, to the 40s, from the 70s. His heart must be very tired.
So the next step was to put the tube down the windpipe and hook him up to the respirator. The doctor told me to come in the morning at 9 or 10 to see how things are going.
Okay. Please give him a hug for me, I said.
Okay, the young doctor said.
I wasn't going to wake Sis, but figured she'd want to know. She picked right up. We talked for a while. We're worried. Will Dad ever be able to talk to us again, even if he does survive this? I told H., too.
Scared and sad. My poor Dad. Such a good man. So strong and independent all his life. He should not have to suffer like this. I do not like the idea of them jamming something down his throat to force him to breathe, but this is what we discussed clearly with him today. And of course, I say jamming but it might very well be gliding gently. I don't know, but it's scary and heavy and does not bode well. It just happened more quickly than I thought it would. I hope Will gets to see him tomorrow at noon. If you know what I mean.
My neck and shoulders are killing me from holding up my head all day and balancing my responsibilities. Good night.
I knew it would be the ICU. It was the nice young resident. After I left tonight at about 9:20, they put the line in Dad to give him the drug to bring up his blood pressure, but it did not work. His BP had now plunged more, to the 40s, from the 70s. His heart must be very tired.
So the next step was to put the tube down the windpipe and hook him up to the respirator. The doctor told me to come in the morning at 9 or 10 to see how things are going.
Okay. Please give him a hug for me, I said.
Okay, the young doctor said.
I wasn't going to wake Sis, but figured she'd want to know. She picked right up. We talked for a while. We're worried. Will Dad ever be able to talk to us again, even if he does survive this? I told H., too.
Scared and sad. My poor Dad. Such a good man. So strong and independent all his life. He should not have to suffer like this. I do not like the idea of them jamming something down his throat to force him to breathe, but this is what we discussed clearly with him today. And of course, I say jamming but it might very well be gliding gently. I don't know, but it's scary and heavy and does not bode well. It just happened more quickly than I thought it would. I hope Will gets to see him tomorrow at noon. If you know what I mean.
My neck and shoulders are killing me from holding up my head all day and balancing my responsibilities. Good night.
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Alice, my prayers and love... If anyone asks what they can do, have a list ready (laundry, walk Sug, make dinner). Get help so you can keep helping. Please keep us posted and if there's anything I can do from here, do not hesitate.
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