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.
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!
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.
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.
One Sunday afternoon Stacia had made this cookie and she and Liv decorated it! Stacia, and the rest of us, enjoy getting to know Oliva and her mom, Carrie.
Arielle and Benny at the Vintage Fair. We cracked up at the way Benny is wearing his glasses.
Dad enjoyed getting out and helping this summer. He helped build garden beds, liked to sit out and watch the garden, he helped sift rocks...2 years later in 2022 we miss this.
LOOK! We grew one!
The moose are visiting again.
This day I was waiting while Dad was supposed to have a procedure done to open his heart up a bit. They stopped the procedure.
I was out walking the next day when I got a call from a heart surgeon in Anchorage. I didn't even know we'd been referred yet. It appears dad heart is bad enough they wanted him to see a surgeon rather than the angioplasty....they called to say he has less than 3 months to live (by predictions) and to schedule a consult.
Everyone told us to socialize Millie. It would be great if we could get her around other dogs when she was young. From her earliest days CoRielle brought Kimber over to play. I was told Kimber would teach Millie how to behave with other dogs and how far was too far....
I think Kimber pretty much let Millie rule....and Millie never learned to leave bigger dogs alone. LOL In fact she drew blood on Kimber and play dates had to end...but on this day they had a puppy play date which both enjoyed.
