Dad in Hospital/ICU – Improving but serious
Posted on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pmDavid:
Dad was admitted to ORMC through the Emergency Department yesterday. He has serious pnemonia and was placed on a ventilator. A test was performed of his lung tissue to determine what type of bacteria it is. He is on antibiotics, heavily sedated but resting comfortably; responding to what is called “forced pain” – a pinch by the nurse. If improvement was going to happen, it would in 24-48 hours and did tonight.
I talked with Mom just a little while ago and she spoke to his nurse who said he is maintaining an adequate oxygen level in his blood with lower settings on the respirator (80% to 50% oxygen levels). Vitals are stable. Color good. The goal is to wean him off the respirator so he can breathe on his own again.
It is good to be here with Michael and Oscar. We are going day by day. I’m getting an earlier flight home on Sunday so we can go by the hospital, but won’t be back to the house until after 9 pm.
I’m going to call your parents in the morning.
Will post another update tomorrow night.
Jen
Pookie and I are both confident your dad is in good hands.
Pookie made the comment above. It wasn’t me. Pookie has some denial issues. So, I’ve enrolled him in a course that will teach him to admit his shortcomings and, more importantly, offer an opinion only when one is requested. I’ve already taken the course. And it works. So, rest assured, it wasn’t me telling you what to do. It was Pookie. He’s got some control issue. But I’m dealing with it. I’ve got it all under control!
You’ll need to call my folks on their cell phones; their at the beach until late tomorrow.
You can pray from anywhere in the world.
Don’t change your plan because you need to take care of anybody but you. And don’t disappoint Ellen to please someone else – and don’t leave her alone. If you want me to do something, let me know. Otherwise, I’m going to do what I came here to do.