August 21, 2008
I’m Still Missing, But In the Meantime…
I know. I’ve been MIA. Lots of things going on around here. Still taking care of Dad. Hopefully he’ll be released from the hospital soon.
In the meantime, I’ve got a review up at Dana Reviews. Do your kids love yogurt? Yoplait Kids sent us a coupon for a free package. Dawson loves it. Check out the review, a giveaway is involved!
I’ll be back soon with updates, as well as more giveaways (and the announcment of the winner of the Norton 360 giveaway, too)!
Posted by Dana
8:40 am •
Dana Reviews •
August 15, 2008
Dad Is Okay
I just got home after a long and trying day. I’m utterly exhausted and I can barely keep my head up and eyes open, but I know many of you are on pins and needles and I wanted to make sure I came over to update on Dad’s surgery.
I woke up this morning, still tired, and discovered I had a migraine from Hades. I’m sure it’s because I was still PMSing and under a lot of stress. Showering was a struggle as I was so worried about Dad’s surgery and all the hours of waiting. Five long hours of surgery. Poor Daddy. I just can’t imagine what he was thinking and feeling.
Dawson was so dead tired from all the trips to the hospital we made, and waking him up was like rousing the dead. I managed to dress him as quickly as possible, but the poor Doodlebug just wanted to sleep. Then he rolled over onto his tummy and I heard him mumble, “Dear God, please fix my Papa.” It was so sweet, but it broke my heart. Even at three years old, his heart is full of compassion.
I called my Mom at ten to 8 a.m. and told her I was on my way, but I had to drop Dawson off at daycare first. Thank the Lord that my dearest friend Chris offered to pick him up later that afternoon because I didn’t know how long I’d be in Marshfield, and Doug had to work the second shift at the store. He tried to get off work, but I told him not to because I’m going to need his help tomorrow for this family reunion I’m not responsible for on Dad’s behalf.
After driving over to Mom’s, and picking up my sister Rachel and my brother Frankie, we all stopped for coffee at Emy J’s and I’m glad we did because I hadn’t eaten anything and I needed something in my body to get the metabolism moving. I had a caramel steamer/coffee mix and it was really delicious. Mom lectured me about not eating breakfast but I was so worried about Dad I knew I’d throw up whatever I tried to stick down my gullet.
We were more than halfway to the hospital when my brother Nathan called to say that Dad had already been taken to the ER to be prepped for surgery. It was only 9:15 and his operation wasn’t scheduled until 11:30. We got to the hospital in time to be taken back to see Dad. The nurses were very kind to let all 5 of us back there, even though the rule is only two at a time. I think they realized how close our family is and we needed to be there together.
Dad told us that Dr. Rau moved the schedule up to 10 a.m., which was excellent, and we had only ten minutes to tell Daddy how much we loved him. Frankie, my youngest brother began to cry, which made me cry, then Mom started to cry and Dad was getting misty-eyed and it just made me grasp for air. The love my mother and father share is amazing and so strong and I pray that I’m blessed to share that same everlasting love with Doug (I know I will, because my father and Doug are from the same mold. But that’s another post entirely).
After we left the ER, we went to the family waiting room to wait. At about 11:30, the ER nurse came to say that the surgery before Dad’s was delayed and Dad wouldn’t be taken back for an hour or more. Turns out his surgery didn’t begin until 1:30 p.m. and at 3:30 the nurse called the waiting room to say that things were going well at that point and she’d update us again soon.
At 5:30, Dr. Rao, the neuro-surgeon said he had done his part, which was the craniotomy, and they took fatty tissue and part of his thigh muscle to rebuild the part of the brain that was damaged from the accident.
He learned upon opening the skull that there was little more damage than what showed in the x-rays/ultrasound, but the did that there was a lot of mobility in that area of the skull fracture and the damage to the frontal lobe wasn’t too severe to be irrepairable.
They layered that area with the tissue to create multiple “seals” that will allow that area to heal and to create a barrier in the sinus cavitity and nasal area. This is so that they could prevent spinal fluid from leaking out Dad’s nostrils. He may still have a problem with this later, and it could require an additional surgery but right now they did what they could to prevent that from happening. Dad has a spinal tap to alleviate some of the pressure and brain swelling and that will need to be in for several days. Dr. Rao had to put a plate in the forehead area to keep everything in place.
After Dr. Rao finished his part, Dr. Pillai came in to do facial reconstruction and that involved piecing my father’s face together and he may need to do another surgery later around the eye socket because that was crushed severely. Amazingly (and thank you, God) my dad’s eye is fine. We’re praying his vision will stay in tact, the risk that that eye will worse is small, but we’re still praying for full reconvery.
All in all, Dad’s surgery took 8 hours because of the complexity and and all the facial reconstruction that needed to be done. He’s in a drug induced coma for the rest of the night and part of tomorrow because there’s some swelling in the brain as a result of this surgery.
I cannot tell you how relieved I am, but I’m still fearful that something unexpected will arise. I hate to think that way, but I can only think this is my mind’s way of preparing me for the worst. I have faith that God is at work here, that this is in His hands now. My father is a man of God, a devoted Christian and I know the the Lord will keep him safe and that he is there for Daddy.
I’m trying not to worry. I’m a little frazzled, but maybe after a good night’s sleep I’ll be more sane tomorrow. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I think that knowing you are in my corner and have been here for me, is what makes me realize everything is okay and that I’m not losing my mind. I love you all so much. Thank, from the bottom of my heart…..thank you, thank you, thank you.
August 14, 2008
I’ve Gotta Have Faith
When I was a little girl, if something scary happened, I would go to my Daddy and tell him what I was afraid of. He would let me curl up in his lap and he’d tell me everything would be okay, that he would protect me. As he comforted me, and spoke reassuring words, I could feel the warmth of his breath on the top of my head. I burrowed into his neck and chin and I knew everything would be okay.
So, how do I comfort and protect the man who has always been there for me. My father is my heart. My calm in the storm. And he’s laying in a hospital bed, as I type this, preparing to go into surgery tomorrow morning.
Originally his surgery was to take place sometime next week, but this morning the neurologist discovered a tear in the lining of Dad’s brain tissue, causing spinal fluid to leak through his nostrils. This means the risk of infection, and meningitis, is high and the doctors need to go in and stop the leak and fix the fracture in his skull, eye socket, nose and cheek bone.
When Dr. Pillai and Dr. Rao came in to explain all of this to Dad; my sister, my brother, my husband and I were in the room. They went through the procedure, and explained the risks and I stopped breathing when Dr. Rao said that there is a slim chance inadvertent damage to the brain or eye or spinal cord could happen. He said the worse case scenario is that my dad could lose vision in his eye, or the surgery could cause a stroke or paralysis. I know he said slim chance, but my mind was racing. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I realized I wasn’t breathing.
I have never been more scared in my life. And I sat in that room, trying desperately to be strong. I was paralyzed with fear. I can’t lose my father. I cannot lose him. Try as I might to think positively, to have faith in these doctors, to have faith in God, I’m scared to pieces. Millions of tiny little pieces.
And it only got worse as I had to relay the information to my mother on the phone. Dad told her not to come see him today because he didn’t want to scare her. But I couldn’t not tell her. She cried on the telephone and I tried to be strong for her.
I know he’ll be all right. But why does is the seed of doubt planted and growing in my mind?
I can’t stand this. I can’t stand this one bit and I’m frightened, which makes it ten times worse than it needs to be.
All I can do is pray. Dear God, I hope that praying is enough.
