A Traumatic Week

It is just after 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time, I am updating the blog while it's my shift to keep an eye on Dad. My daughter and her husband finished their shift a midnight, while Shelley and I slept. Shelley's shift begins at 5:00 a.m. We are taking turns because Dad has had a traumatic week with two ER visits, both by ambulance, and a 3-day hospital stay.

You all know how the week began from my previous post. Since his hospital release on Wednesday, Dad is supposed to be using a walker at all times. However, his dementia causes him to forget so we have to constantly remind him so that using a walker will become a pattern. Not an easy task!

This past Friday, Dad got out of bed to go to the bathroom, which is about 10 feet from his bed. As I was sitting at my computer in my office next to his bedroom, I heard a loud crash. As I quickly turned around I saw Dad laying face-down in the hallway between his bedroom and the bathroom. Rushing over to help, I notice blood coming out his right side and I could not move him. I yelled to Shelley to call 911 and within minutes the paramedics were here followed by the fire department.

The paramedics were great and as soon as I mentioned that he is suffering from dementia they provided the appropriate assistance. Once again Dad's sense of humor was in action. As the paramedics were assessing his injuries, they had to move his head to which Dad said, "Hey, my head's not a basketball!"

We arrived at the Sutter Medical Center ER around 5:45 p.m. on Friday and there we stayed until 12:30 a.m. Saturday. My wonderful daughter stayed with me and Dad, while Shelley and Kevin, my son-in-law, waited in the hospital's "quiet room." Tabitha helped me reassure Dad and repeated to him what was happening. A few times Dad did not remember who she was. Tabitha held his hand and spoke soothingly to him.

It was a busy Friday night at the ER. In the bed next to Dad was an 89 year old stroke victim that was not expected to make it through the night. Even though the curtains were draw we could hear all that was going on and the very difficult decision the family had to make. He was later transported to a special facility in San Francisco.

About an hour later, another person was brought in by the police. This person was hearing voices and wanted an x-ray taken of his head so he could prove that "chip" had been implanted in his head. It was an X-Files episode.

Finally, in the wee hours of Saturday, Dad was completely checked out, clean-up, and ready to go home. After getting him to bed at 1:00 a.m. I stayed up with him util 5:00 a.m when Shelley relieved me and I got 4 hours of a deep, sound sleep. So here I am 24 hours later on my second shift of Dad watch.

A traumatic week for us all!

This is the Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, CA where Dad  spent most of the week.

Dad's Sense of Humor..Or Is It?

Many of you may already know that Dad spent all day yesterday in the ER and was admitted to Sutter Hospital here in Santa Rosa, CA. His condition is serious with a diagnosis of acute renal failure, however he is responding to treatment. The doctors will be taking tests daily to assess how his kidney's are responding and based on those results will determine what next steps we take. His condition with dementia also limits what treatments are available to him, for example he is not a candidate for dialysis. More on his condition as I get the information from his doctors and nurses and I'll pass it on to you.

And now about Dad's sense of humor. This story was related to me from the night nurse about what happened early this morning:

The nurse supervisor laid her glasses down on Dad's tray-table and Dad picked them up. The nurse said that "those are my glasses" and Dad said, "no they're mine!" Then Dad said, "Prove that they're your glasses." So the Nurse said, "Put them on." And, of course, Dad couldn't clearly see through them. So Dad takes the glasses off and looks at the nurse and says, "Well, you still don't look good."

Seems everyone got a laugh and the story has been making the rounds. Those of us that know Dad know he was serious!

Here are two photos I took of Dad today:

Dad Says Hi to Everyone!