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Asking for prayers/good wishes/positive vibes etc. UPDATE: Father passed away Saturday
PJ1973
Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 399
Back in October, I has posted this originally asking for prayers for my dad who had entered the hospital. He was released, and after some stints at a rehab facility came back home. We were able to spend the holidays together but sadly, he passed away this past Saturday. He was 78. He died peacefully while sleeping. So many people from this board reached out when I first posted this both publicly and via PMs and I appreciate that dearly, and is also why I wanted to post this update. We'll be having our cremation service this Friday. Thank you all for your support.
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Hi everyone, hate to burden people with personal issues but my 78 year old dad is in the hospital following an infection that caused his blood pressure to drop precipitously. Fortunately, that has been stabilized and his BP is back to normal. The problem is he also suffers from dementia and after losing a lot of strength these past few days, it's become very difficult to get him back to normal. He's not wanting to eat or move around and without doing that, I don't see a way for him to come home any time soon :( His vitals are now fine, but he still seems days away from leaving, and the longer he's in the hospital, the more frightening the whole situation becomes.
Anyone else dealing with parents or other close relations with dementia? It's a depressing situation.
Thanks,
Rami
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Hi everyone, hate to burden people with personal issues but my 78 year old dad is in the hospital following an infection that caused his blood pressure to drop precipitously. Fortunately, that has been stabilized and his BP is back to normal. The problem is he also suffers from dementia and after losing a lot of strength these past few days, it's become very difficult to get him back to normal. He's not wanting to eat or move around and without doing that, I don't see a way for him to come home any time soon :( His vitals are now fine, but he still seems days away from leaving, and the longer he's in the hospital, the more frightening the whole situation becomes.
Anyone else dealing with parents or other close relations with dementia? It's a depressing situation.
Thanks,
Rami
Post edited by PJ1973 on
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Comments
I've experienced something similar this past summer with my dad. He's been in and out of emerg, acute care, home, emerg, acute care, physical rehab hospital, back to emerg, and then to acute care all summer. He was overdosed, fell out of bed a few times, once at home, others on different wards. He's gone into diabetic lows on a few occasions and has also had oxygen levels drop to 12%. We've dealt with confusion, anger, apathy and exhaustion. It's been emotionally and physically exhausting and downright terrifying at times thinking I'm going to lose my dad.
I tell you all this just to let you know that he is finally well enough and mobile enough to come home next week. There is always hope.
Whatever happens and whenever it happens always remember to breathe. Tell your loved ones that they are loved and take the time for yourself to laugh and cry....and get a massage!
It is utterly astonishing how much stress lies in your muscles and tendons. My neck and shoulders are still carrying it.
S xx
I'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with when he sees a physical therapist tomorrow. In the meantime, we'll just keep doing the best we can.
Thanks for your words and wishes.
Rami
And on my knees
To pray for your dad
Can you pray too..
Would be good faith...
The early memories in life seems to be the ones that is remembered best. It is easier to talk about things in his past life.
Good thoughts to you and your dad Rami.
Trieste 14, Vienna 14, Gdynia 14, Leeds 14, Milton Keynes 14, Denver 14
Central Park 15
Fort Lauderdale 16, Miami 16, Tampa 16, Jacksonville 16, Greenville 16, Hampton 16, Columbia 16, Lexington 16, Philly1 16, Philly2 16, NYC1 16, NYC2 16, Quebec City 16, Ottawa 16, Toronto1 16, Toronto2 16, Fenway1 16, Fenway2 16, Wrigley1 16, Wrigley2 16
Regarding the dementia, it's weird what he remembers and what he doesn't. He remembers people and faces, but not events in his life. A few months ago, he was telling one of his friends that he hadn't been back to his home country, India, since he moved here, in 1968. He's been back over a dozen times, as recently as four years ago, but he was just adamant that he hadn't returned. It's such a strange disease - I feel like I'm with my kids, but instead of progress, we're just hoping for no regression.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, and for letting me type on and on. Does make me feel a little less wound up
Rami
Not like it ever needs to be said, but I guess it does - DO type on and on if it helps. Many shoulders and ears here.
I wish you the best and hope you find comfort in the time you have with your dad and from those around you.
Then yesterday his white cells shot back up. They've come down again today, but the doctors see something in the colon which could be just a sealed infection (good), or something else (bad). They can't do a colonoscopy so all they can do is to give the antibiotic. They'll know in around 48-72 hours whether that's going to work and if he is going to improve. It's going to be a long weekend.
Thanks again for your kind words and positive energy. I'm hoping for the best.
Rami
That effort of our parent(s) seems to shine on in their children, in us. Shines through in you.
Hang in there best you can. Over the long coming days? Check in, let it out, whatever you need.
Rami
Trieste 14, Vienna 14, Gdynia 14, Leeds 14, Milton Keynes 14, Denver 14
Central Park 15
Fort Lauderdale 16, Miami 16, Tampa 16, Jacksonville 16, Greenville 16, Hampton 16, Columbia 16, Lexington 16, Philly1 16, Philly2 16, NYC1 16, NYC2 16, Quebec City 16, Ottawa 16, Toronto1 16, Toronto2 16, Fenway1 16, Fenway2 16, Wrigley1 16, Wrigley2 16
2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1
My Mother when she was sick.. it is a very helpless feeling, and can be extremely taxing in and of itself.. big
Hope you and your mom are holding up OK through all this.
Rami