Dad's Surgery - 3 month adventure

 Having surgeries in the mist of the covid craziness was totally different than it used to be. This is our story. We decided to take the RV to the base the night before Dad's surgery.  This would make the drive the hospital in Anchorage much easier.  We would not be allowed to visit in the hospital. We would not be allowed to wait during surgery. BUT if things went south we would be able to get to the hospital quickly. It's the best we could do. 

We circled around Dad and prayed as we left the house. 

Benny was praying for "GG's heart owies" - but he was happy to play farkle before GG left. 

After the initial check in visit, they decided they WOULD let me accompany dad until he went back for surgery because he was obviously not able to give them accurate answers to their medical questions and was confused at their instructions.  He had a quadruple bypass. It was his choice. He had been told he'd have 3 months to live without it - and he wanted it.

I left the hospital, and the wait began, it was August 5th. The call that surgery was over was what we expected. HOWEVER, Dad did not wake  up from the anesthesia until August 16th, Stacia's birthday.  By that point the ICU doc was talking about initiating his medical directive and taking him off all life support which he was on. He had been given a week and woke up on Day 5 of the week. 

He woke up. Then came weeks in the ICU as they worked to get him to the point where he could sit up, feed himself etc....it was a slow go...and eventually he was released to Maple Springs on September 1st, instead of coming home. At that point he was on oxygen, unable to sit on his own. He was in a wheelchair and couldn't stand or walk.  The hospital and Maple Springs couldn't arrange a time for us to see him....but the transporting company called to let us know when they would be arriving and said that time between institutions was our window to see dad. All felt it would be helpful for him to see us.  Arielle, Benny and a friend from church (with her girls) joined Stacia, Michael and I to greet Dad. 

Our first look at Dad in a month...we had been told we could talk but we couldn't touch him.  

Um...the Chaplain said to heck with THAT and touched Dad and prayed for him. Dad was confused. He needed that. 

Dad thought he was at our house and didn't understand why we weren't coming down to see him. He also thought he was next a man with a horrendous injury (but was alone).  It was a tough time for him. 

I was called for 6 different falls in a month. Alaska is a no restraint state...but Dad kept falling out of beds and chairs...and his dementia was such he wasn't remembering he couldn't get up alone...so he fell....and we would rush to the hospital for scans as he's on blood thinner...and he would think he was in Oregon and be upset when he had to go back to the facility. 

We were lucky he was in a room where we could do window visits. The kids, great grands and us all made it over to his window. 

Michael & I

Benny

Bella, Gideon and Annie

Stacia and Millie

Our hope was he would be out of here before snow fell - because those visits got colder as the time went on. LOL  They began to get cranky about daily window visits, because they had to move him to the window...and he continued to fall...and wasn't make much progress.  The nurses told me if it were THEIR dad they'd take him home....the heart surgeon thought he would improve at home and may regain some cognitive awareness at home.  Finally, after we discovered he fell and we weren't called...we had a meeting with all over the phone and against the advice of the doctor who was overseeing the facility - we made plans to bring him home. 

We went to the facility and learned how to get him into our van. We found a new bed, boards to help move him, equipment to help move him, oxygen tanks, install a chair lift, contract to build a ramp and BOATLOADS of meds. 

On November 8, 2020 - 3 months after his surgery we brought him home. We had been told he'd be 2 - 3 weeks.... 

The ramp wasn't done but there was no ice yet on the hill down to the back door. Cory, Michael and Krista got him inside. 

Krista is dating Luke. 

The girls made Chicken Pot Pie and Stacia made a welcome home cake. 

Together again - and both are over the moon happy. 

We have a whole lot of new meds to keep track of...but he's home. 

We had not been aware how the surgery could affect Dad's dementia. We were told maybe a step down, but it was way more than that.  Dad is still happy with his choice, though he does NOT have the energy he had 20 years ago...as he had been led to believe he would. We actually didn't notice any positive improvement in his energy level....he is now able to get around with a walker. He still falls quite often and needs much more care than he did before the surgery...but he is alive and so he's happy with the choice. 

Millie's New Experiences

 Millie is very nervous when riding in the car. We realize her only rides were probably the vet and then the long one to our town. She arrived covered in vomit and poop. So we keep working on it. 

Rewarding her with a pupacino!

Sit and STAY. 

The carwash. 

Unexpected Happenings

This past week was QUITE a week.

We knew Dad had 3 scheduled appointments.....but the week went off the rails. We ended up with  more appointments - but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Josiah is quarantined due to a work exposure to COVID 19.

Jamin is also staying home due to the fact that he shares a home with Josiah.

BreZaak and crew began the week quarantined due to Izaak's exposure.

Dad's first appointment went well.  We came home and did a bit of work in the neglected garden. Dad has adopted the corn patch - which is SHORT, but tasseling.

Dad's second appointment was for an angiography and possible stent on the blockages detected in previous tests.  They allowed me to go into the hospital as I'm his caregiver.   I waited and waited  - masked - and thought up parody songs about, "I'll mask up for you..." The work needed was more extensive than they had expected.  All 3 arteries are 80% blocked. They referred us to a heart surgeon.

We began to discuss the issues with Dad....stay the course with meds, stents, or open heart by pass surgery.  We hoped for stents and waited to hear from the surgeon.

The surgeon called at 9:02 the next day.  They wanted to see us in Anchorage at noon. Up we went.  Due to the placement of the blockages in the left artery, to stent would require at LEAST 5 seconds of no blood to Dad's heart. The Dr. said he feared his heart wouldn't start up again. In his opinion this was the option with the shortest life expectancy.

Two options were to accept a major heart attack is on it's way....statistically 80% chance it would be within a year...could happen any time, or have the by pass surgery. Dad chose the surgery.  He chose the option with the chance of the longest life expectancy.

There just aren't a lot of photo options at doctors....this little sign in the elevator cracked us all up. There is NO WAY 4 folks will be 6 feet apart in here....maybe 2 could pull it off.  

We texted and called family and Dad's family-like-friends on the way home to the valley.

I spent significant time talking with various folks to get permission to at least attend pre-op with Dad. Anchorage has the policy NO ONE can attend patients...not even caregivers. I told them I understood, but if they had info pertaining to Dad's care I NEEDED TO HEAR IT....and  if they want him to go directly to surgery on the morning of surgery, I need to accompany him. I got a call back Friday afternoon saying I can attend pre-op and accompany him until the surgical nurse meets him. I will then leave and see him again when he is released at the door of the hospital. I can live with this.

The heart surgeon is predicting 4 days in ICU and a total of 7-9 days in the hospital.

We spent Saturday readying the RV. Michael, Stacia and I will go up with Dad on Tuesday. We'll stay in Anchorage for the first few days post op. I KNOW we can't visit or really do anything - but stay, we will.

Michael and I went shopping for a tablet so Dad could have video visitors in lieu of visitors. We worked on setting it up today only to  discover Dad has no interest in video visitors.  He is just fine talking on the flip phone and didn't want to take the tablet to the hospital.  It was MY need to have that contact. Stacia has a birthday in 2 weeks and is HAPPY to take the tablet off grandpa's hands.

We ended the night, and started the new week, playing Farkle...and eating treats. Stacia made a yummy carrot cake, Michael pulled out ice cream and Krista had Belgium chocolate left from her trip to AL.  One of her fellow chaplains had flown in from Germany.

Even Millie wanted to play tonight....look how quickly she is growing. She is 3 months old now. We suspect she will be more than the 50lbs we were anticipating based on her Mom and Dad's sizes. She was 21 lbs last time we weighed her.

Dad's surgery is Wednesday, August 5th at 0730. We appreciate and crave your prayers. There are many things about this I simply don't like.

This song has been playing in my mind......

[Verse 1]
I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

[Chorus]
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

[Verse 2]
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah!

[Chorus]
And all my life You have been faithful, ohh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah!

Morgan Horse Trail

 Stacia and I continue to take Millie for walks. Yes, we walk in our pajamas from time to time.  This was such a gentle walk I hesitate to use the "Alaskan Hike" title. LOL 

Millie is getting better at polite walking. 

This walk goes behind a housing area for a bit of time, then through woods and a gentle climb to Lazy Mountain trailhead. 

It was pretty this year. 

The fireweed are beautiful. 

Memorable Friday Fling

 We met Arielle and Benny at the Friday Fling today. We started by sitting under the shade of a big cottonwood tree to enjoy a quick "lunch" of lemonade and funnel cake. ::snort:: 

Benny (2 3/4) and Stacia (15)

📷by Arielle

Today's trip to the Fling was memorable as it was Millie's FIRST trip to the crowded streets, and....

...it was Benny's first time to ride a pony! 

📷by Arielle

It was a fun trip. We were happy Arielle invited us to join she and Benny.