I didn't really want to blog everything going on at first. I didn't want all the sadness archived. Now I wish I had because I would have been able to look back and see how God has provided. Here is the most recent update.
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I know you have all been wondering what is going on and I apologize for the delay in an update. I have wanted to send an update for a week but I've just been so exhausted any free time I'm sleeping. =)
We've had a lot of ups and downs over the past week. The VA (Veteran's Affair) Hospital in
I am really pleased with the doctors dad has at the VA. I met with them Monday and they are very aggressive about getting to the bottom to all his conditions and figuring out what is going on. On the other hand, I'm really discouraged regarding the nurses. I feel they lack compassion and a desire to see to the patient’s smaller needs.
For example, my dad cannot eat or drink yet and he has been allowed two small ice cubes every hour to keep his mouth moist. It was about 5:30 yesterday and I had already been with dad for about 30 minutes and dad asked if he could get some ice. I asked the nurse if he had ice within the hour and she said she wasn't sure because she just started her shift. I asked what time her shift started and she said 4pm. I asked if she had given him any ice since she started an hour and a half ago and she said no. So I said then he hasn't had any in the last hour. She said I guess not. Ugh! I asked the nurse to get him some and she said she couldn't get it right then. We wait about 10 minutes and she never brought it. So I went to get some. I told dad he could have some every hour but he is so confused he doesn't really now when an hour would have passed. I just hate feeling that when I can't be there with him that he may not be getting much attention. Please pray regarding this.
I did get an opportunity to speak to one of dad's doctors last night. That was a blessing for me. He has a few things going on and I'll try to explain them.
Fluid in the abdomen (ascites)-
He has a build up of fluid in the abdomen which is common with patients with cirrhosis. Typically this fluid is found free flowing throughout the abdomen and the internal organs sort of just "float" around in this fluid. They wanted to do a tap of the fluid earlier in the week to determine if the fluid was clear or had infection or blood in it. To do this they have to take a scan and mark where the organs to make sure they don't hit anything. However, what they found was odd. The fluid was not free flowing but encased. At this time they didn't know if it were a cyst, tumor or what. They drained it yesterday and determined it was fluid with infection. It was explained to me that it appeared that the ascites was encased because of the infection. Similar to how our body encases an abscess. He has been on antibiotics since he was in the ICU so this has probably helped some. I didn’t get a chance to ask what exactly this meant long term but I had several questions to ask so I was going to wait until we discussed the liver later.
His pneumonia has not cleared up but it has gotten a little better. His oxygen levels are good, his breathing is stable and they feel they have him on an antibiotic that is most responsive to his pneumonia. This is probably something we will deal with for a long time. They may not be able to completely clear it at least not anytime soon.
They still aren’t really answering any of my questions regarding the liver. They wanted to deal with the ascites and pneumonia first. I was told that today they’d be meeting with a liver specialist and having a group discuss on dad’s liver. I told Dr. Hayes that
Swallowing –
They still haven’t determined if he can eat or drink. They tried a feeding tube through the nose but he plays with it so much they couldn’t leave it in. They will be doing tests today and tomorrow to determine if he can swallow. He hasn’t been able to and we really need to get him swallowing. We are between a rock and a hard spot with his nutrition right now. Because of his inability to swallow all of his conditions are compounded by the lack of nutrition. He has been receiving a TPN (total parenteral nutrition) bag intravenously that provides him with nutrition such as protein, sugar, vitamins, minerals and sometimes fat (lipids). This is not meant as a long term solution especially for patients with liver problems because it is difficult on the liver. The other option is a gastric feeding tube. This is sort of a last resort. It may not even be an option with all the fluids in his abdomen.
This is so frustrating to me. They really don’t know what is causing dad’s confused state. It is really hard to judge his mental capabilities. He has his long-term memory and sometimes his short-term. However, he talks about the strangest things. For instance, yesterday I told him I needed him to say a letter to the Post Office so I could get his mail. He seemed to comprehend what I was asking and I placed the paper in front of him with a pen and he started to sign his name. He wanted to put it up in the typed body of the letter and I directed him down towards the bottom. He told me to quit going so fast. I wasn’t doing anything but holding the paper on a hard surface. He was able to sign his name and it wasn’t too messy. He was also calling my Aunt Debra my sister Becky. He would keep telling me that he needed me to get two out of the refrigerator. I’m not sure what he was referring to. Sometimes he seemed coherent and I asked him when his rent was due and if some of his bills were paid automatically. He answered those but went back to talking strange. I know he wants out of there and I want him out of there. He says he is hungry and I am sure he is. I am praying for his comfort and clarity.
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Yesterday dad had his nurse call me and tell me to come to the hospital as quickly as possible. I had already planned on leaving in 10 minutes but I left early. I was a little scared and nervous about what was going on and how dad was. I was praying and talking to God about my fear. At first I was wondering if my fear was lack of faith and trust in God. It wasn’t. I think fear is a human emotion and what is important is how we respond to the fear. I can imagine Abraham having fear when he was traveling up the mountain to sacrifice Isaac but he knew God would provide. My friend Jill told me that I need to trust what I know and not what I feel. I felt scared but I knew God would provide. So I went and I stayed calm. The fear didn’t leave until I arrived and God provided. So I would like to pass on the wise words of a friend to trust what you know and not what you feel.
To be able to trust what we know we must know God’s Word.
Romans 10:17
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Love Stac
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