Update on Dad

As I get older I find myself referring to my father by his first name much more often. I wonder why that is?

Anyway, since the last post on my father's health, here's what's happened:

*Spent a few days recovering in the hospital, where it was learned that his right carotid artery was 90% blocked. According to the vascular doctor, this is a condition that accumulated over time, not a sudden onset. This blockage has been restricting blood flow to his brain for a period of time measured in years, not months or weeks. This doctor theorizes that a piece of that blockage broke off and caused the stroke. His recommendation: wait for his condition to stabilize for a couple of weeks, then bypass the blockage.

The cardiologist added that Eli's heart is doing fine and that from a cardiology perspective (anyway) Eli would survive the surgery.

The neurologist was concerned that the sudden increase in blood flow following the surgery could cause swelling in the brain, causing further damage. The neurologist also suggested that a piece of the blockage could come loose during the surgery and cause another stroke.

Eli's everyday doctor demurred to the specialists' contradicting opinions. No help there.

*Eli recovered to the point where he was released from the hospital to a nursing home - a pretty bad nursing home (the Edina Care Center on 62nd and Xerxes in Edina). Even though the orders were clear that he could not walk on his own and was to have a bed alarm should he decide to try and walk on his own, Eli got out of bed to run to the bathroom (even though he was catheterized) and fell, ripping out his catheter. Luckily he wasn't injured in any other way. As far as we could tell, Eli got very little of the care that was ordered.

*On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Eli went in for surgery and it was a resounding success. By Thanksgiving day he was reading a newspaper in bed and had in general made a remarkable recovery.

*On Thanksgiving day Eli was released to the Masonic home in Bloomington - a much better care facility. He is convalescing there today.

No life lessons today - just an update.