Archive | January, 2010

Most recent news

8 Jan

I didn’t blog about Dad yesterday. Quite frankly, yesterday was a strange day with many ups and downs and information was (and IS) hard to nail down.

Dad did NOT get out of ICU yesterday. When Mom was finally able to go back yesterday morning, she found that Dad was sleeping and had a fever. The Neurosurgeon did not like the fact that he was not waking up and running a fever of 101, so he ordered yet ANOTHER CT scan (I am looking for a coupon or hope they have a volume discount) and ordered some lab work on the spinal fluid that drains out of his shunt. Everything seemed to be okay.
But Dad would NOT wake up.
So they call in a cardiologist. Dad’s heartbeat has been a little irregular. Two cardiologists come and look over his charts, ask Mom a ton of questions, and discuss the case. They decide there is nothing to be concerned about but do order an echocardiogram. Echo is done and Mom never hears anything about what it showed. I wonder if they are going to use it as a baseline or something.
But Dad would NOT wake up.
After all that Dad has been through, it does concern me that no one seems to be able to figure out why he won’t wake up. He would come around a talk a little, and go right back to sleep. Mom, my sisters, and I are all getting upset. Wondering what will happen next on this rollercoaster we’ve been on for two weeks now.
And Dad woke up. And he seemed fine. He tried to set a nurse up with my nephew. He was talking like crazy. So I wonder if he has his days and nights mixed up?? I could see where that would be easy in ICU.
Anyway, we have no idea when he will get out of ICU, let alone the hospital. And we still covet your prayers.
And please pray for Ed Self and his family. Ed is Ebenezer’s minister of music and he was called to Rock Hill yesterday because his father is close to death. Ed’s dad has fought COPD for many years and docs feel he will pass away in the next day or two. I guess its a bad week to be an Ebenezer staff dad.

A Word on Wednesday

6 Jan

Yeah … Just tryin to come up with something more creative for a blog entry title about Dad. We are entering our seventh day in the 4th Floor ICU at Greenville Memorial, and our 12th day (total) in this hospital. Mom is getting tired but doing okay: She told me mornings are better than afternoons. She didn’t get home from the hospital last night until almost 10:30, and was back here by 8:15 this morning. She can’t keep this pace up … PLEASE PRAY FOR HER! She is a real trooper!

We went in this morning to find both drain tubes REMOVED! (BY THE DOCS!!! They’ve had some trouble with Dad trying to remove things in the past two days.) They did a CT scan this morning that looked good. When we went back, Dad was still pretty groggy and sleeping from his pain meds. Should be waking up around 10:30, and I intend to go back in then.
The next question is “when will he get to transition out of ICU?” His nurse told us to ask the doc when we see him around noonish. Hope its closer to noon than two, because Raoul (the Accord) and I have to get back to Florence this afternoon. IT’S FRIED CHICKEN NIGHT AT EBC!!! And, there’s something else I gotta do, too!!

The rest of Tuesday’s story

6 Jan

I regret that I didn’t have time to update this until now. Much has happened to keep me from a keyboard, but I finally am able to write this.

Dad’s morning valley quickly turned around. He eventually woke up more. He wants to get out of there, even asking my sister to break him out. He had a swallowing test today that he passed, and now is able to begin eating food (I think they started him on liquids, so I don’t know if you can really call it eating yet!)
I got into my car at 3 in Florence and basically just got out of it and sat down with my computer in my lap. Long journey, long story. I am spending the night in Easley at Mom and Dad’s and going to the hospital tomorrow for a while before I return to Florence.
And, all in all, I am counting my blessings. Headache is gone. Long tasks done. I just hope God blesses me with a sermon for Sunday now!!!

Tuesday’s Report

5 Jan

I find myself starting this day with several heavy issues unrelated to Dad. Disappointed. A little ticked. Headache from lack of sleep. And my week just got rearranged.

Called up to my sister to check Dad’s status, and we are in a little valley this morning. He is again not waking up well. They are sending him for another CAT scan and waiting for answers. The valleys get tougher when you have such good and high peaks.

Will update more as I know it.

Monday’s report

4 Jan

Got some good news a few minutes ago from Greenville: Dad is alert, movement is good, and they decided to REMOVE THE VENT TUBES!! He is talking, answering questions, recognizing people, and ready to get the heck out of there!

Yesterday afternoon doctors decided to go ahead and drain the other side. It was a sudden decision, not an emergency but it was urgent. Steadily throughout the day and night Dad made large-scale improvements, much more than he’d made over the past week.

So, we are climbing toward another peak. But the road will still be long. I suspect Dad will have to do some inpatient physical therapy. And now I pray for patience, for he and Mom. This road will be a long one and there WILL be valleys to go with the peaks.

As for Monday, we are climbing uphill!!! And it feels good!

Peaks and Valleys

3 Jan

I write this as Sunday School is in full swing at EBC. I expressed my gratitude to the early worship crowd for how Ebenezer has been my family, carrying me through many tough times in my life. Prayer works and I am a firm believer in both the power of prayer and the power of God.

By virtue of my calling, I’ve walked this path before. Many times. As a pastor who cares for my sheep, I’ve been on this difficult road with others and it is no picnic. I’d like to think I’ve helped many families before who were right where the Wike family is, right now. One thing about it: I feel their pain now first-hand. I’ve seen it from the bleachers many times, but now I feel it. And its tough.

I finally was able to call Mom this morning around 10am. The report is not great news, but not terrible news either: He is still breathing with the vent in CPAP mode only. His vitals all look good. There is an increasing amount of mucus they are having to deal with and we don’t know where that is coming from. So, no significant changes in any of those. But now he is not as responsive as he was yesterday. And that hurts.

Many times I’ve seen families celebrate the peaks and suffer through the valleys. So I know they exist. But walking through this valley is tough. Ironically, my little sister and I talked yesterday about how we’ve celebrated so much over just a little progress and we talked about the fact that valleys will happen. I just didn’t think it would be today, or hit me like a ton of bricks.

I don’t want to sound like the boy who cried wolf, but please do keep my family in your prayers. Thanks!!!

Another Good Night

2 Jan

Up here in ICU, I guess everyone just wants another good night. Another good day. I’ve seen and heard much from others in this waiting area. Some good. Some not so good. It all reminds me that life is very difficult and opens my heart so much more to what my EBC families have been through when in the same shoes. I might blast through and visit for 30 minutes, but they are the warriors that are in the heat of things. They are praying until their knees are raw. They are celebrating the smallest of victories, and agonizing when the setbacks hit.

Mom had a bad feeling last night and this morning. I can’t imagine how painful it must be to see Dad like this on their 56th Wedding Anniversary. Today is a day to celebrate on many levels, but I’m sure she never thought she would celebrate like this. Now, she would be the FIRST to tell you (and I AGREE) that we would much rather celebrate it up here than be in mourning. And today really is a day to celebrate!
We got here this morning and found that Dad had another good night!! His breathing is better, so much so they are considering removal of the VENT. They will have to leave the tube because of some mucus with which he’s had a hard time. (Don’t be alarmed: Chest x-rays are CLEAR. I think he has some sinus pressure goin on)
Today he is more alert. He was moving BOTH HANDS like crazy and wanted to talk to me while I was back there, so much that I couldn’t stay too long. He is getting agitated with the vent and that is a good thing … it seems every hour he is becoming more alert. This from a guy that slept for three days solid. We are thankful!!
My older sister is driving in from Memphis today, and my little sis is chomping at the bit to get back here from Tampa. And I will be heading back to Florence this evening.
Mom is in good hands, in great spirits, and I ask all my friends to pray for her today as she celebrates her 56th anniversary with her sweetheart. And today we celebrate!!!

Starting the New Year off with a bang!!

1 Jan

We rang in the New Year last night by watching the dude do the Rally Car stunt on ESPN. That was pretty cool. We all went to bed after that knowing we couldn’t get into ICU to see Dad until 9am. So I set my alarm and went to sleep. This morning I got up and about 10 minutes into my new year the phone rang … and my heart stopped. I went to my mom’s door and it was the hospital.

For dramatic purposes, pause reading for a second. Because time stood still for about ten seconds. It was Dr. Gardner. It was GOOD NEWS! He called because he was about to go off call and his replacement would have a busy, busy day ahead of him. He started the call with “DON’T PANIC! THIS IS A GOOD CALL!” (We really appreciated that … this guy has good communication skills.)

He told us Dad had a great night. He was rousing around and becoming more awake. He isn’t fully awake, but he is opening his eyes and waking up. Looking around. They did another CAT Scan and said the left side of his brain looks good. The right side, which the ER doctor told us had blood a week ago, still has some blood but it is a smaller amount. Doc says he doesn’t want to go after that yet, but to give Dad some time to recoup. He hasn’t mentioned a possible stroke in two days now, so I am not sure what that means. He is going to leave Dad on the vent for another day or two (which always makes me nervous). All in all, it was a good call.

And we are praying for more good days from here. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Newer Entries →