December 28, 2009

Dear Dad,

Last night was a long one.  At 10:30 pm, I received a call from the nursing center that you had been sick most of the evening, and the doctor felt it was necessary to send you back to the hospital, via ambulance to the emergency room.

I was actually just about to get into bed...so I dressed and drove to your facility and waited with you for the ambulance.

You were never responsive more than opening your eyes after several times of calling your name.

En route to the hospital, while I was following the ambulance (normal speeds, no siren or lights), suddenly the lights flipped on, the siren went off and the ambulance took off, leaving me behind.  You had some "irregularities" with your heart and were starting to have cardiac arrest.  The EMTs were able to stabilize you and your pacemaker took over, and you made the trip fine.

You were in pretty bad shape.  The vomiting left you dehydrated, and your ammonia levels were elevated.  You had not been eating or drinking enough, and the doctors said your kidneys were suffering as a result.  They also said the dehydration affected your heart, and the irregular heartbeats may stabilize.

It was a long night in the ER.  The doctor decided to keep you for a couple of nights, help you get back to "normal", whatever that may be now.

When I called your wife, Marion, to tell her your status, we discussed your desire to not be resuscitated.

That puts me in a dilemma.  You told me you want to recover and go home, you have a lot to live for.

I discussed this with the doctor, and he told me this is treatable, that we are in a bad time right now, but it is treatable.

Needless to say, you are stable now, in a room, and looking better.

I have said this before, and I will say it again...you have been and always will be a good man.  I will stand for you, as will your other 2 sons, and we will pray for your recovery.  It is a long shot, but isn't the basics of faith believing the impossible?

If you do not recover, we have nothing to gain through this...we are losing our father, our guide, our mentor.

We are strong, and will do the right things.