Long time no type! See for the longest time dads condition was sitting steady at not great but not getting any better. We finally got him into a nursing home, because it was just to much for Lily and I to do on our own. We still go and see him all the time, luckily the home is just across town! Very convenient.
It is with very mixed emotions that I write here today. As many of you know, as you are friends with me on facebook, dad had a possible stroke on Tuesday. I got call from his nursing home in the morning telling us that dad had what appeared to be another stroke. He wasn't feeling well, was slurring his speech more so than normal, and he was favoring one side being that the other was really weak. Dr.Waldridge, his family doctor, figured it would be better for him to go to the hospital downtown for observation.
When we got there, they weren't sure exactly what was happening. They took a Cat scan, and after waiting HOURS (you know how that goes) they finally brought us some hopeful news. That while there was narrowing of the vessels, which indicates a stroke, they weren't sure if was new or just lingering from a previous stroke. They said that it could also be a viral infection that was exacerbating his stroke symptoms. Basically, once you have a stroke you do therapy to improve your condition, but those symptoms, slurred speech, weak on a particular side, etc, don't go away... they are always there. When a patient gets sick or tired or lazy, they will slip back into the symptoms. So since dad had been complaining about not feeling well, and since he hadn't slipped so far down, like last time, they were holding out for it to be an infection! We were too!
Basically, long story short, (though I know it hasn't been short) Dad has a UTI that was exacerbating his stroke symptoms. They are treating him for that and hopefully within the next few days he will be discharged to a rehab facility, where he will get physical, speech and occupational therapy. They are taking him for a heart cath today. "We're really worried about his heart." well to be completely honest, you ALWAYS are! We haven't gone to a doctor or hospital since this happened that they haven't been concerned with his heart, they always find that it just remains the same bad and send him home with pills! smh... society we live in man.
Anyway, bottom line, he's fine Thank Goodness!! Hopefully he will be up and about in no time! Thank you all for your continued love and support and words of love and wisdom, I know dad enjoys hearing it when I read him your comments on facebook!
Write ya soon!!
Olivia
