Well it isn't good. We took Dad to the nursing home last Friday and as of Wednesday he is back at the hospital. He developed pnemonia and they think he had a few TIA's(mini strokes) I am just so upset he did so well after the surgery and by Saturday he went down hill. They are running many test on him to see whats going on.
Please keep Dad in your thoughts and prayers. And say one for me too I need it right about now. I am run ragged! Times like this it sucks being an only child. Thank god for goods friends and the few family members I have here.
Thanks

By Angellew on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 01:52 pm:

{{{{Kate}}}} I am so sorry. I'll be thinking of all of you.

By Tripletmom on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 02:11 pm:

((((((Hugs and Prayers to you and you're Dad))))))

By Tayjar on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 02:39 pm:

I am so sorry you are going through this. I bet it is hard being the only child. I hope he recovers quickly. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

By Tink on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 02:51 pm:

You and your father will be in my thoughts and prayers. {{{Kathy}}}

By Karen~admin on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 04:31 pm:

Kathy, I'm so, so sorry. Sending get well vibes and prayers your way. Let us know how he does over the next few days.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

By Sandysmom on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 05:02 pm:

Wish I were there to help. ((((hugs)))))

By Kim on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 05:05 pm:

Hugs, prayers and positive thoughts to you.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, June 16, 2006 - 05:49 pm:

{{{HUGS}}}

By Kernkate on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 08:22 am:

Thanks. I was at the hospital last night and he was talking alittle bit better, but nothing like he was a week ago. They are running alot of test to see what is going on. The Dr. that did his hip surgery said he would like the nurses to start having him sit in a chair and maybe try a little weight bearing on the legs. If they feel he can do it. We were watching the Yankee game, he favorite team and he did ask what the score was. So he knows whats going on but still gets confused. Its just breaks my heart to see him in this condition when he was so independant.
I finally got a decent nights sleep last night after 10 days.

By Debbie on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:09 am:

{{{{Kathy}}}} I am glad he is doing a little better. Hang in there. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:39 am:

((((HUGS)))) Prayers for your Dad.

By Vicki on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:44 am:

Hugs and prayers for you and your dad!

By Deek on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 11:07 am:

((( hugs)))

By Kay on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 11:49 am:

{{{{{Hugs and prayers}}}}}}}

By Crystal915 on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 01:13 pm:

(((((Kathy)))))

By Wandilu on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 08:23 pm:

Kathy,I hope your Dad gets better soon.

By Mom2three1968 on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 09:22 pm:

Thinking of you and hope your Dad is better soon.

Hugs to you and prayers sent your way!

By Pamt on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 09:39 am:

Kathy, I must have missed all of this. Did your dad break his hip? One thing you might want to investigate is his swallowing ability. When I worked in nursing homes and rehab a lot of patients with hip fractures would develop swallowing problems because of generalized weakness. It is a pretty devastating injury for the whole body. Couple that with TIAs and he could be having some swallowing problems that resulted in aspiration pneumonia (When food or liquid gets into the lungs and causes pneumonia). A speech pathologist would be the one to perform the tests. First, a bedside dysphagia exam to see if a potential problem exists and then perhaps a modified barium swallow study/pharyngogram would be recommended. Even if he looks like he is swallowing okay and he reports that it feels okay, he could be having silent aspiration which can only be seen on a videofluoroscopic xray.

Hope he's better soon and that you get some rest!

By Ilovetom on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 12:58 pm:

Happy Father's Day to him.

By Emily7 on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 09:25 pm:

I will keep you & your dad in my thoughts & prayers. I hope that he is doing much batter today!

By Mrsheidi on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 09:46 pm:

We had a modified barium swallow done on my mom and it turns out that she needs to eat and drink taking turns with each. She can't just eat something and then wash it down with a liquid.
I hope everything turns out ok, sweetie. It's hard to get any sleep when your loved ones are going through something like this!! {{Kathy}}

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 09:51 pm:

Hope you enjoyed father's day, even tho it must be stressful. ((((HUGS))))

By Karen~admin on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 07:31 am:

Kathy, how was he for Fathers Day??

By Kernkate on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 08:43 am:

Yes Pam he did break his hip and had a parcial hip replacement done 2 weeks ago. Everything you have mentioned about the throat and pathologist they have already talked to me about. And they are going to do that. They are saying it is that aspiration pneumonia and right now he can only swallow nectar liquids. They will be running more test today. Thanks for all the great info Pam.
Karen, He was a little bit more talkative yesterday. He said he doesn't remember anything after the surgery. And is just starting to come around. He is still very low speaking and tired. Even if I see a little bit of improvment each day it means alot to me. I just got a call from the social services at the hospital and she was talking to me about his apartment. They just wanted to let me know they that if or when he does get on his feet after the nursing home, hopefully he will go back there for therapy. They do not want to see him living where he was because of him living by himself and the steps to his upstairs. So now I have to think about that If he does come out of this were he is able to come home, I will have to take him to live with me{which he will not like} and then maybe get him into the senior citizens complex 4 blocks from me. If he is able to do this. I just have so much things running through my head!
Thanks for letting me ramble here. Its hard with no one besides my family here and everyone is drained after this long 2 weeks!