A word about my Dad

[Lex]

Folks, my Dad is having surgery today. It's not even what they'd planned. He has the bad C. We've struggled with this as a family for some time. A few of you knew that. But I decided today it was time to take this public so you'd understand as I am not responsive to your needs here at the Guide over the next few days.

Dad is having a disc removed from his back, because the disease is making it difficult for him to walk. He's been in treatment some, but I don't know whether this is working. It doesn't seem so.

All I'm saying is, if you pray, my Dad John could sure use being included in prayers and I could to, that I and my family have the strength to endure this. But mostly for my Dad. He's been through a lot, at 78 that's not easy to deal with.

I started to post this in Admin, but I knew some of you wouldn't see it there. So, I put it here.

thanks.
Doug

[Azeke]

Our prayers are with your Dad and family.

God's speed,

Azeke

[Aussie Geoff]

Doug,

I'm glad you shared this. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Take all the time you need for what is REALLY important in life....

Geoff

[George Bellefontaine]

Doug, you and your dad will be in my prayers.




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[aud19]

Our thoughts are with you buddy. You and yours take care.

Jason




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[Bam!]

Doug...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...truly.




Bam!

[Lex]

Thanks guys, that means more than you know.

Dad made it through surgery ok today, 6 hours worth. They wound up removing 2 discs. He's got a 1-2 week hospital stay, and a 6-8 week recovery period wearing a brace from this. The surgery he originally went in for has been delayed. This took precidence. He was quickly coming to a point he couldn't walk without this. While this isn't a cure, it's making his life less painful, and keeping him mobile. He's in ICU in a drug induced coma tonight so they can leave him on a ventilator overnight. Trauma to his lungs required this today, since they had to go in from the front through his chest cavity. I saw him about 9:00 tonight for the first time. He looked good, though he's been through a tremendous amount today.

Again, your continued prayers appreciated. Dad's a good man, if I don't say so myself, the best.

Doug

[David Meek]

I'm glad he made it through Doug. Of course he and you are in my thoughts and prayers.




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[Azeke]

That's great news Lex, let him know we are pulling for him.

God's speed,

Azeke

[Chris D]

Lex, of course we are with you and your family. Keep us in the loop, and we're keeping you in thoughts and prayers.




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[Bam!]

Doug!

So far so good...I am happy for you and my thoughts and prayers continue bud....

Take care!




Bam!

[Andrew Pratt]

Take care doug.

[Eduardo]

Lex,

Glad your dad's surgery was successfull. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Eduardo

http://home.nc.rr.com/ejimenez

[Gordon Moore]

Doug I will remember him in my prayers. Just continue to give him lots of love. Try not to give up hope. Hope is what keeps all of us going. Life throws us many internal struggles, doesn't it.

Stay strong and smile everytime you see him.

[efarstad]

Doug, continuing to pray for you, your family, and your father. Gord, was right on...bring your smiles with you...I remember how much those meant to my mom! Smiles, laughs, and a lot of love are great medicine!

E





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[John Holmes]

Of course we will have you and your father in our prayers. I'm glad the surgery went well.




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[Lex]

Thank you a lot guys, really!

Dad is conscious now, and breating on his own. :B That's a big first step. He's still in the neurological ICU, but that's really good, as he gets closer care there.

I'm going over to see him at 9:00 tonight. So, I'm looking forward to that visit, just him and me, one on one. Mom is at home already getting some overdue rest herself.

Doug

[Andrew Pratt]

that's great news Doug

[George Bellefontaine]

Glad it's going well, Doug.




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[JonMarsh]

Best wishes for your dad's recovery- that's tough surgery he's had, especially at his age.

Regards,

Jon




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[Lex]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately a potential setback today. The Doctors said the bone was really soft, and it may not hold the plate. Some movement had already occured they said, and they may have to go back in.

At least this time it won't be as evasive, at least I hope not.

Doug

[Lex]

I thought perhaps a progress report was in order.

Dad continues to have a tough time. But he is able to sit in a chair now, though he must be asssisted heavily to get to the chair a few feet away. He started some physical therapy today. I'll be back over there this evening to sit with him.

So, while it's slow progress, it is some progress anyway toward getting him home. The Doctors haven't said anything else about having to go back in that I am aware of. I hope they don't have to as that would be a major set back I am sure.

Doug

[Trevor Schell]

Hey Doug!
I truely hope your Dad recovers 100% from the surgery.
He will definately need your support and the love that family can provide.
Continue to be strong.
Let is know what we can do to help.
We understand you may have limited time at the HTG.
,and realize family and health is more important than anything else.

Take care,
Trevor.




Trevor
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[Kevin P]

Hey Doug!

Sorry I missed this thread earlier on, I guess I don't hit the chalet as often as I should. ops: Your dad and your family continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Hope he recovers fully soon. Take care.

KJP




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[Sonnie Parker]

I apologize for missing this thread too Lex... ops:

Glad to learn your dad made it through the surgery and is at least making some progress.

You already know that your dad, you, and your family are on our prayer list and we will continure to pray for you all. May God give you all comfort and peace.

God bless you!






SONNIE

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[Eduardo]

Its good that your Dad is able to get out of bed. In time with your support and physical therapy, he'll be up and walking.

As always your family are in our prayers.

http://home.nc.rr.com/ejimenez

[David Meek]

That's good news! ANY progress is good, Doug. Keep that in mind and keep that in your dad's mind, too. His attitude is the most important thing.
:T




David - HTGuide flunky
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[Lex]

Thanks guys for the warm sentiments, thoughts, and prayers.

Unfortunately, things are not going well for my Dad. I don't know how much longer he has. It's possible he could get to a point of getting back in physical therapy, or or realistically, the best hope is probably to get to go home until his time comes. But the odds of that have slipped considerably. It's been a difficult time for my Dad. He's suffered a tremendous amount. It's very hard to watch someone you love go through that. His disease has worsened and he's back in the hospital for medical reasons, not therapy. In fact, I thought we were going to loose him toward the end of last week. But he's made some progress out of that condition. A near comatose state. He was in that for 2 days. He came out of that on Friday morning. Then had another procedure done on Sat morning, and that's where he's at now, heavily drugged, sleeping quite a bit, and surviving. He's not very much in reality at this point when awake. Maybe that's a good thing. when awake, he reminises the events of times gone by.

I'm not telling you all this for sympathy really. A time will come I will need a lot of that. I'm telling you all this so you understand as I am fairly much not posting, and unavailable. I'm with my Dad every day at least 3 hours, and trying to work some as well. It's a long day. So, time is limited in each day.

Doug

[George Bellefontaine]

I'm sure everyone here understands, Doug and our prayers will continue .




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[aud19]

Take your time Doug, we've got a good group here to help take care of the Forum while you're dealing with much more important things.

I thankfully still have all my parents and even all my grandparents left but I know this can't be easy. Even all grown up and men ourselves our fathers (to most of us) are still our heroes.

One of my Dad's best friends from growing up had his Dad pass away a few months back. He was almost like a third Grandpa to my family when I was growing up. That's how close we all were. I tell ya though one of the toughest parts of that funeral was when my Dad was saying a few words and he started at first to choke up then to cry. Seeing my Dad cry and hurting like that. Wow, that was tough... So I can only imagine what seeing your Dad hurting even worse is doing to you.

You and yours take care Doug.

Jason




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[Lex]

Thanks George.

Jason, cherish the time you have with your Grandparents and your parents. But obviously, in the logical order of things, you should pay special attention to your Grandparents. Mine lived to 86 and about 90, well the only 2 I truly new. I lost my Mom's side early on. Never new her Dad, and her Mom passed when I was 6. My Grandparents lived about an hour and a half from us, which made it tougher to see them regularly.

They are supposed to let us know our options tomorrow at 10. Likely they are talking a hospice. That's where my Sister Terry wound up, before we lost her to ALS about 3-4 years ago. It's doubtful Dad will be able to come out of this for time at home. It's so hard.

Since so far, he's given up mentally, and withdrawn, it makes any recovery at all that much more difficult even if it is possible. I found out about an hour ago he's been off morphone for 24 hours, and he's still in another world. Again, maybe for his own good. Though of course, he could come back to reality at any time. I guess you never know about this.

I'll see you.

[Ricky]

Doug,

Your dad and your family are in my prayers. Take care.

Your old friend,
Ricky

[jimmyp58]

Take care and know that many people are thinking and praying for you and your family. I don't know if you and your dad are spiritual people but if you are, trust in God no matter what. If your dad has given up mentally, perhaps he is preparing himself for his next life which as we all know, is a heck of a lot better than this place! Though both of my parents have passed away some time ago, my family lived through my father-in-law passing nearly a year ago (4/15). I was very close to him and he treated me like a son rather than a son-in-law. When the doctor told him he had just a few weeks to live (he'd been battling leukemia for over a year) he was shocked. But suddenly, our Lord appeared to him and he was ready to go. The tough part was us ... not wanting to let go. Dad knew his time with us was over and he was preparing himself for his ultimate gift, eternal life. What a present indeed.

I know how tough it is for you and your family to see your dad suffer. It really sucks. Many non-believers, and even some devout believers, don't understand why God sometimes makes us suffer before we die. It is a mystery indeed. But in His world, this suffering is truly short-lived. At Eastertime though, this is a special time to reflect a bit. Like I said, it hurts to see your dad suffer the way he is. But it is nothing compared to the suffering Christ endured for us all. He didn't have to go through this pain but he wanted to for the love He has for us. God knows of the pain your dad is enduring but in time, it will be all washed away. And through the comforting words of the Serenity Prayer, know it is at these times God is truly closest to your dad; He is not walking with him, He is carrying him.

Take care and may God bless you, your family, and especially your dad!

Jim