2 weeks from the back of my front, my life changed forever…
Just over 2 weeks ago, my father, the man I possibly respect more then anyone else on earth had a life-changing event. Not just for him, but for the entire family. This man, who’s been through a near-fatal heart attack (actually he was clinically dead 3 times but thanks to modern medicine and some unbelievable medic crews he was brought back), and a quadruple bypass surgery, had a massive stroke. It affected the right side of his brain and partially paralyzed the left side of his body. Thankfully he was at work at the time, which is only minutes from a hospital, and as soon as the stroke occurred, 911 was contacted and medical personal dispatched. He wasn’t unconscious for very long, which limited the amount of damage; however, this is not to say that he came through completely. Damage was done, that is for certain. The hospital he was transferred to became our new home for the days after, when it was the most dangerous for him. The doctors *biting my lip* kept giving us the worst possible scenario, which was he would not make it to the weekend. This was wholly and completely unacceptable as I, and the rest of my family, am not nearly ready to live our lives without him in it. It had been quite a long time since I openly cried like that, but I couldn’t help it. My dad is my strength, he is the core of who I am and I am not ready to wake up tomorrow without him around to talk to.
Thankfully, by the powers that be and the grace of modern medicine, we didn’t have to go through that kind of pain. My dad has made, and is making, a remarkable recovery. Within a week of having the stroke, he was transferred out of the ICU ward, and about a week after that, he was ready to be transferred to the Rehab Facility where they would concentrate on getting back as much as possible. Before he left the hospital, he was already walking, albeit with assistance. His speech was getting better daily, and even some strength was returning to his left arm. However his left hand is not coming around as quickly as he would like.
The Rehab Facility is brand new, and staffed with young and aggressive therapists and doctors, which is what we like most because my dad wants to return to as much of a normal life as possible, as soon as possible. Right now though, he’s having troubles because he doesn’t want to listen to what the therapists want him to do. It’s like he’s almost given up and has resigned himself to what life he has left. It’s been a struggle to say the least for me, and my brothers, and my mom to try and convince this very proud and once independent man that he has to suffer this perceived indignity in order to get back to where he was, or at least, close to it. But damn his stubbornness, he doesn’t want to listen, or refuses to, I don’t know which! He won’t do his swallowing exercises to strengthen the muscles in his throat so he doesn’t aspirate and get pneumonia. He won’t do his arm and hand exercises to rebuild the muscles there so that he can one day use them again. He walks too fast, causing the therapists to fear for his falling and causing himself more injury. He doesn’t pay attention to his doctors when they ask him to do something. It’s just so damned frustrating, and unbelievably hard on all of us. We try and try to convince him to do what he needs to do, what he’s ordered to do, but it’s like he doesn’t care anymore. It’s like he’s accepted his invalid status and is just going to let himself waste away. Well to hell with that noise! We’re not going to let him, not if we have any say at all. Just because he had a stroke and is now no longer capable of doing the things he used to do just 2 weeks ago, doesn’t mean we love him any less, but somehow, I think that’s exactly what he’s got stuck in his head. The old curmudgeon!
Nothing quite like a few tears and some emotional distress to strike up an appetite. And oh joy; all I have is a Jumbo Honey Bun. Maybe I’ll be able to swing a 15 minute trip out of here and over to Burger King or Subway for something a bit more substantial. It doesn’t even have the white frosting on it, what a bum deal.
I’m taking a break right now so I can calm down, get something to eat, and make a phone call.
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