It is raining here, again. Lots of rain recently - very strange indeed. But, it is nice to have green grass and trees in this desert for a change, so I will take it!
So updates on Pop - it was a tough weekend with some strong high points though. Let's start with the good stuff. Denise and David (mom's sister and brother) made the long drive from NJ to OH to visit with Mom and Pop for a few days. They were very welcome faces for my parents and they had a really great visit. I can't thank Denise and David enough for making that trip to spend time with Mom and Pop. Mom told me that they had a great visit and that having some familiar faces around really makes a big difference for her and my father. So THANK YOU!!
He was admitted again to Cleveland Clinic last week - Wednesday - when they decided that he should not go home with the blockage in his intestine. Luckily (and this is the WEIRDEST thing we have EVER been thankful for) Pop started FARTING! Yup, that is correct! Mom gave him a high five when he finally passed some gas. Now, coming from experience, I can tell you that my father's flatulence is nothing to be celebrated, but this is a HUGE exception! Passing gas means that the blockage was and is clearing and his intestines are moving - ON THEIR OWN! YAY!
Pop's been a tad uncomfortable the past few days. The draining of his abdomen was very helpful last week, however, the wound created to do the draining has been leaking quite a bit on its own. The doctor stitched it up, but the draining continues. The doctors have scheduled another manual drain for today. Pop was in quite the mood on Saturday... his ammonia levels are high which causes confusion which leads to some frustration and irritability. The doctors prescribed some medicine that starts with an "L" (I have NO idea what it is called) that is lowering the ammonia levels and Mom reported that yesterday Pop was heading back to his normal attitude and was much "perkier." This is awesome news! For one, it means that the doctors knew what was causing the mood swings and that his body allowed the medicine to work. YAY!
His kidney levels are still very high, but this is to be expected. No real news or updates on the liver or the kidney at this point. On the schedule for today is, hopefully, an abdominal fluid draining, but also a stress test for his heart. Since he is very weak, and we all know about his ankle (wink), the stress test will not be the typical, "Do laps on a treadmill, sir!" Instead, it will be a drug-induced test. Now, I am not sure what that really means, but I can imagine that it means the doctors will medicinally speed up his heart and other organs and test how they handle the stress. Like I said, this is just my guess as to what will happen.
Pray for more farts and less drainage!! (wait, does that sound weird??)
Love to you all!!
~Susan
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