Update on my dad's condition from Monday evening (10/1/07)

Not a lot of news, which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. I spoke with Greg, the day nurse, and then the new night nurse (both shifts change nurses on Mondays, at least with the ones involved due to scheduling). We spoke a couple times through the day.

The items addressed include:

MRI - this was performed early this evening. The reading of the MRI will not take place until the morning and I'll be calling around 10a El Paso time which should be after morning rounds. There should be more information at that time. I look forward to this information.

A New Bed - they were moving dad to a new bed as of 9:30 El Paso time this evening. This will actually move his body (rolling from side to side, I believe) to promote the draining of his lungs and to get some movement into the rest of his body. I liken it to bump starting a car, get the pieces moving, then the ignition will have an easier time to kick in - the ignition in this case being his brain and breathing most of all. This is a good thing.

Back on sedation - they took him off of sedation yesterday but they're resuming today. His breathing is very weak. His blood oxygen saturation is lower than we'd like even though he has assisted breathing and 100% oxygen given to him. This is all being watched.

His essential minerals are being supplemented (I think I mentioned this before). Potassium, calcium, and others. A good thing.

The dysrhythmia has subsided, a good thing.

I'm working on getting back out to El Paso, Thursday evening at the latest so far. A friend sent email to Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Essex Fells, NJ, which was a very close congregation for my father for many years. Support continues to flow in and it's very wonderful to see. I look forward to sharing it all with my father when he awakens.

In addition to the continued support from so many people, I also got an amazing letter from someone I've been out of touch with for several years. I see this as one of those mysterious blessings from the universe, something I never would have imagined as a result of this delicate time. I feel truly blessed.