Send a good thought my Dad's way

cookie · January-31st-2008, 01:04 AM

Hey folks, if you pray,or if you send positive vibes, or think a good thought, or hold somebody in the light, please think of my father as he undergoes heart surgery today.

When I was home a couple weeks ago, he took a spill in the snow and experienced some chest pain that wasn't going away (kinda came and went). He chalked it up to the fall. While at a regular doctor's appointment, he mentioned this and an occasional burning in his chest since the summer to the doc. The doc did an EKG, found nothing. Then they did a stress test. I guess Dad was fine during the test, but when he finished and sat down, the machines went haywire. They believe he may have as much as 75% blockage in his aorta where it joins the pulmonary arteries. The way I understand it is that they are only doing a single bypass, though.

I spoke to him and he said he feels fine, but he knows that the surgery is going to take a while to recover from. He's in a good hospital, has good insurance, and the doctors do these things pretty routinely, now. Still, they're going to open him up and that's always scary no matter how good the odds are these days.

Anyway, I just got this news today and it's only now starting to sink in. The surgery is really early in morning and I know my stepmother will call me when there's anything to know. I don't have to work tomorrow, so I'm just going to stay tight the phone and take care of business from my desk.

Think a good thought for my dad.

PS: thank God they FOUND it BEFORE there was a heart attack!!

Ron Thorne · January-31st-2008, 01:22 AM

Cookie-

All good thoughts and vibes are sent to you, your Dad and family.

If it's any comfort to you, my father-in-law underwent quadruple bypass surgery 10 years ago this past December at the age of 77, and it was a bit of an ordeal for all of us, frankly. He rebounded quite remarkably, though; especially for someone who used to say; "Exercise? I'll lie down until the thought passes." Shortly after his surgery he began walking as part of his recovery, along with some other mild forms of legitimate exercise, including loading firewood into their wood stove in Hope, Alaska several times each day during winter months.

Now, he's as healthy as can be, with a clean bill of health from his heart specialist, and he'll celebrate his 88th birthday with us this May.

All the best to your Dad, Cookie!

cookie · January-31st-2008, 01:31 AM

Thank you, Ron. I am so tired, but I just can't sleep because it's just sinking in. Your father-in-law's story is encouraging. I know my father will do the right things to recover (or at least I like to think so). My grandfather (my dad's dad) had a heart attack in his 50s, changed his lifestyle and lived to be 83.

Makes me want to ease back on the butter and cream and increase the exercise, man.

gonzo · January-31st-2008, 03:35 AM

consider it done.

Tom Storer · January-31st-2008, 04:19 AM

Positive vibes flowing your father's way!

jesus marion joseph · January-31st-2008, 07:44 AM

Best wishes to your dad, cookie.

Gary Sisco · January-31st-2008, 08:04 AM

I'll beam out some good vibes, Cookie.

patricia · January-31st-2008, 09:58 AM

Positive thoughts going out to your dad, Cookie.
May he have many more miles left to travel and gas in the tank.

Chris D · January-31st-2008, 10:03 AM

Here's praying it all goes well, cookie.

rollhead · January-31st-2008, 10:11 AM

good vibes headed your dad's way.

keep us posted, please!

My father-in-law had septuple bypass and a new pig valve put in a few years ago. At 75, and very sick, he was just on the edge of being too weak for such serious surgery. He almost didn't make it, but about three months after the operation he was out driving in fence post with a sledge hammer and in far better shape than he'd been in in over a decade.

Scott Dolan · January-31st-2008, 10:23 AM

Keep your head up, Cookie. I gottz the vibe machine set to 11.

steve(thelil) · January-31st-2008, 10:37 AM

I've sent some very positive thoughts by USPS express telepathy. (I tried to talk to my buddy the Godster, but he was busy with Huckabee.)

Hang in there. I'm betting all will be well.

Noj · January-31st-2008, 10:45 AM

Good vibes en route!

Gentle Giant · January-31st-2008, 10:49 AM

In progress.

GoodSpeak · January-31st-2008, 11:12 AM

Done deal, Cookie.

Tim

makpjazz57 · January-31st-2008, 11:52 AM

Hey Cookie,

Thinking everything positive for your Dad!

Marla

clinthopson · January-31st-2008, 12:32 PM

Hey Cooks, big West Coast vibes to your Pop.

A lot of my friends have had that kind of procedure and have come out of it better than ever.

tippy · January-31st-2008, 01:07 PM

Hey Cookie, thinking very good thoughts for you and your father and all of your family at this time. He (and you) can do it! Take care of yourselves and peace at this challenging moment.

cookie · January-31st-2008, 01:40 PM

Thank you so much, folks. I'm just sitting by the computer waiting for my phone to ring with news of how it went and how he's doing.

How long does it take to perform a bypass? Does anyone know? I would imagine it takes a while what with opening up the chest and all. Just wondering how long I might have to wait before they're able to call.

I really do appreciate your positive energy and supportive thoughts. My dad was pretty active before all this. My hope is, that as some of you reported about your friends, that if they fix this problem, he will be better than ever.

But for now, I'm just waitin' to hear how today went.

Gentle Giant · January-31st-2008, 01:49 PM

I'm working on a $500 million capital campaign for Brigham and Women's Hospital here in Boston and one of the areas I'm writing about now is their cardiovascular expertise. Compared to things like cancer and other diseases, heart disease treatments have high degrees of positive outcomes, and the technologies and techniques for doing these techniques continue to advance. There's 3-D imaging, robot-assisted surgery, minimally invasive, catheter-based techniques, etc. You have every cause to feel confident in the outcome.

Ron Thorne · January-31st-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie

How long does it take to perform a bypass? Does anyone know? I would imagine it takes a while what with opening up the chest and all. Just wondering how long I might have to wait before they're able to call.

Cookie, there are many variables such as how many bypasses are being made, patient's overall condition, etc.

Patti and I remember that when her father had his quadruple bypass performed, it took 6-7 hours before he was moved into the IC Recovery Unit. We saw him shortly after that, but he was still groggy from the anesthesia and pain medication.

He was in some pain and had moderate discomfort for a couple of weeks, but then began a remarkable recovery, gaining strength and stamina and becoming more pain-free by the day. Within a couple of months he was taking daily walks outdoors, lifting wood into their wood stove and doing his normal routines and more with ease.

I think you can look forward to a very positive outcome for you Dad, which is what we all hope for, of course.

Hang in there, kiddo.

Scott Dolan · January-31st-2008, 04:22 PM

Ron is correct. Bypass surgery can take many, many hours. And, all doctors work at different paces.

cookie · January-31st-2008, 09:40 PM

Dad came through the surgery fine!! He's off the ventilator and other machines, but he is still quite groggy and in some pain (my sister said that the meds they are giving him aren't particularly effective for the exact location of where they operated on him). Anyway, my sister and stepmother sounded optimistic and dad is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

My brother had planned a trip to Maine for the Superbowl. I believe he left CA today and will be in Maine tonight or tomorrow. I'm sure it will mean alot to Dad to have one of us there.

In the meantime, thanks again for your positive vibrations and good thoughts and prayers and just general goodness as human beings. This has been a trying 24 hours, but so far, so good.

Much love to you all.

Ron Thorne · January-31st-2008, 09:46 PM

Excellent news, Cookie!

Recovery is not overnight, but I think your Dad will soon be more vital than ever before.

I spoke with my father-in-law by phone today, and without a similar operation, that probably wouldn't have been possible.

Thanks for the update, and here's hoping for a smooth, swift recovery for your Dad.