Family
It's funny how family pops up out of nowhere at times. We've had contact with people this week we haven't spoken to in 15 years. And most of it has been good.
Medicare says my dad has to go home because he's been in the hospital too long and they feel his condition is stable. The doctor disagrees, but isn't fighting it. He did say off the record that if my dad gets worse, or has any issues, that we can bring him back for a 24 hour observation and there's nothing Medicare can say since it's a new "instance" once he walks out the door. And we can do that every day if we have to.
Heard from one of my cousins today. My paternal grandmother died of breast cancer. My paternal grandfather died of cancer that started as a mass in the bronchial tubes when he was around 65. My dad's brother died of cancer that started as a mass in the bronchial tubes when he was 68. My aunt died of cancer, though they didn't catch it soon enough to have any clue where it started, when she was 70. My dad now has an unknown mass in his bronchial tube and he's 61. Maybe his poor health sped things up.
Since Brunswick Community Hospital won't do a biopsy on the mass for at least 2 weeks, we are getting my dad moved to Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Most of my family has died there, or at Our Lady of Mercy (Mercy Hospital) in Charlotte. It seems odd to feel such loyalty to a place where so many family members have died. But the Dr's there have always been professional, caring, resourceful, and persistent. I can't blame the Dr's for being given a no-win situation. The hospice there is excellent should things take a turn for the worse. I should probably dust off my rolodex and see who I still know in Charlotte. I may be spending quite a bit of time up there in over the next month.
Medicare says my dad has to go home because he's been in the hospital too long and they feel his condition is stable. The doctor disagrees, but isn't fighting it. He did say off the record that if my dad gets worse, or has any issues, that we can bring him back for a 24 hour observation and there's nothing Medicare can say since it's a new "instance" once he walks out the door. And we can do that every day if we have to.
Heard from one of my cousins today. My paternal grandmother died of breast cancer. My paternal grandfather died of cancer that started as a mass in the bronchial tubes when he was around 65. My dad's brother died of cancer that started as a mass in the bronchial tubes when he was 68. My aunt died of cancer, though they didn't catch it soon enough to have any clue where it started, when she was 70. My dad now has an unknown mass in his bronchial tube and he's 61. Maybe his poor health sped things up.
Since Brunswick Community Hospital won't do a biopsy on the mass for at least 2 weeks, we are getting my dad moved to Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Most of my family has died there, or at Our Lady of Mercy (Mercy Hospital) in Charlotte. It seems odd to feel such loyalty to a place where so many family members have died. But the Dr's there have always been professional, caring, resourceful, and persistent. I can't blame the Dr's for being given a no-win situation. The hospice there is excellent should things take a turn for the worse. I should probably dust off my rolodex and see who I still know in Charlotte. I may be spending quite a bit of time up there in over the next month.