Eyes Wide open!
I skipped visiting the hospital yesterday so as to drive back to Hartford, drop off Pix's car, pick up clothes and stuff, etc. before Megabussing back down to NYC. I actually skipped Tuesday as well, with the lingering frustration of Monday's visit still leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
The prognosis for my Dad was bad from the start. Massive heart attack, multiple stoppages/resusitations and 83 years old are a bad combo, to be sure, so it was easy enough to take seriously that it was pretty likely he was a goner. Three days of seeing him motionless, eyes rolled back in his head, surrounded by a kudzu-like tangle of wires and more flat-screen displays than a season of "Pimp My Ride" made that easy to believe.
All that made it all the more wonderful and surprising this morning when Mom and I arrived at St. Luke's to see my father awake and seemingly alert! His eyes were open, his hands were moving about, and he seemed like he was actively trying to communicate. They removed the breathing tube at lunchtime and he managed to breathe on his own, albeit with a loose-fitting oxygen mask in place. He seems to understand us to some degree, perking his eyes up and smiling at the jokes. He attempted to speak, but nobody could understand him just yet. He can't move his legs, which could be from a stroke or brain damage. They did some sort of quickie brain scan thing and say that it indicates some damage. Determining how much will require further testing. He's on the list for an MRI to see what's up with his brain and spine, so hopefully that can happen tomorrow.
Everything else in the CCU was night-and-day different as well. The staff were engaged and friendly, there were several doctors and the hospital social worker on hand. Questions were answered, chairs provided, accommodations made and information shared in a timely and efficient manner. The doctors were all impressed. The head cardiologist called his progress "Remarkable." The doctor who deemed things "Very grim" Saturday night was on hand, very pleased and has a great bedside manner. I was relaxed enough today to notice she happens to have a lovely accent and is absolutely gorgeous as well.
Things are looking up.
The prognosis for my Dad was bad from the start. Massive heart attack, multiple stoppages/resusitations and 83 years old are a bad combo, to be sure, so it was easy enough to take seriously that it was pretty likely he was a goner. Three days of seeing him motionless, eyes rolled back in his head, surrounded by a kudzu-like tangle of wires and more flat-screen displays than a season of "Pimp My Ride" made that easy to believe.
All that made it all the more wonderful and surprising this morning when Mom and I arrived at St. Luke's to see my father awake and seemingly alert! His eyes were open, his hands were moving about, and he seemed like he was actively trying to communicate. They removed the breathing tube at lunchtime and he managed to breathe on his own, albeit with a loose-fitting oxygen mask in place. He seems to understand us to some degree, perking his eyes up and smiling at the jokes. He attempted to speak, but nobody could understand him just yet. He can't move his legs, which could be from a stroke or brain damage. They did some sort of quickie brain scan thing and say that it indicates some damage. Determining how much will require further testing. He's on the list for an MRI to see what's up with his brain and spine, so hopefully that can happen tomorrow.
Everything else in the CCU was night-and-day different as well. The staff were engaged and friendly, there were several doctors and the hospital social worker on hand. Questions were answered, chairs provided, accommodations made and information shared in a timely and efficient manner. The doctors were all impressed. The head cardiologist called his progress "Remarkable." The doctor who deemed things "Very grim" Saturday night was on hand, very pleased and has a great bedside manner. I was relaxed enough today to notice she happens to have a lovely accent and is absolutely gorgeous as well.
Things are looking up.