My father is VERY sick. Please send your Prayers his way.

[L1A1Rocker]

The 21st he had a heart cath and three major blockages were found - not viable for stents. On the 23rd he had triple by-pass surgery. He had a great initial post op recovery and was sent from ICU to a regular room after just one night. Things got a little bad.

He had lots of confusion and other issues - he went back to ICU the next day. He had some good days and some bad days during the next couple of days. Yesterday was a great day and there was talk of sending him back to a regular room. Today was a VERY BAD day.

After several problems cropped up this morning meds were changed and x-rays were ordered. It was discovered that the bones of the breast plate (ribs) had pulled through the wires. (this could have been caused by the coughing: The nurse put it as "an older, but strong, person with weaker bones can have this happen)

He also has fluid building up in his lungs (x-ray showed no pneumonia). Every breath is excrutiatingly painful and pain meds are limited by his low blood preasure. He is hacking and trying to cough, but cannot get enough breath because of the pain.

Tomarrow at 12:30 he is going into surgery again (under very poor physical conditions) to fix what has gone wrong. PLEAS PLEASE send him your prayers.

Thank you

[Hamish]

On the prayer chain.

[hardcase54]

Praying for you and him.

[geargnasher]

Done. Rough time indeed for all of you.

Gear

[rockrat]

Done. Prayers up , for your Father

[Olevern]

Our household is praying for you, your dad and family.

[square butte]

We are praying for you and family

[**oneshot**]

wishing well to your family

[tadeus]

We are praying for him!!!!!!!!!!

[TAMU74]

Added to my prayer list.

[mold maker]

You ase remembered, and praywes sent.

[44man]

100% from me too. With enough from all of us, it might pull him through.

[gray wolf]

Done. Prayers up , for your Father and you.

[popper]

Count me in.

[blackthorn]

Gail and I send prayers and best wishes for your Father and for you and your family in this trying time!

[OLPDon]

In my prayers for your Dad & You!
Don

[ErikO]

Prayers sent. I'm sure you will, but please keep us posted.

[smoked turkey]

I have prayed for strength to get through this rough time for you and especially your dad. May the great physician intercede for him.

[Wayne Smith]

Prayers sent. Sometimes The Lord takes us home, too. Much better at Home.

[plmitch]

Prayers and positive thoughts going out to your family.

[jmsj]

Prayers sent from my family to yours
God Bless, jmsj

[Olevern]

Prayers going up for your father and family.

[crabo]

Will do.

[cummins05]

Prayers as well

[Stonecrusher]

Prayers sent as well. Dads are special.

[Artful]

Prayers on the way for him and the rest of the family.

[eric123]

Prayers sent...

[Recluse]

From Texas to Heaven to you, prayers en route.

:coffee:

[bearcove]

Sending.

[reg293]

Consider it done.

[gandydancer]

prayers sent.

[Grandpas50AE]

My prayers added to all the others.

[crazy mark]

prayers sent.

[429421Cowboy]

As always, prayers are the least we can do for your family, i will keep you all in mind as i say my prayers.

[Larry Gibson]

My prayers are with yor father, you and your family.

Larry Gibson

[kmag]

Praying for both your Father and you.

[Lloyd Smale]

I said a prayer this morning and he will be at the top of my list in chruch tommarow

[L1A1Rocker]

OK, sorry for the delay, just about everything that could go wrong did. Got home at 10 last night and had too much to do to even turn on the computer.

The guy doing this procedure is a partner to the Dr that did the original by-pass. This procedure is really his speciality, so he was called in to do this. These guys are considered some of the top cardiac Drs in San Antonio. But, we still almost lost him. . .

They take dad one way to start and we go to the waiting room - should get a phone call in 20 minutes from the surgical nurse to tell us they've started. 20 minutes later the nurse comes in with bad news. Dad crashed as soon as as the IV sedation started. The implanted defibulater has hit 3 times and is trying to pace the heart but the heart is in some sort of state that it is basicly fluttering and not pumping. CPR is in progress and she goes back.

10 minutes later the nurse returns with an update. They have opened him up and are pumping his heart by hand but it does not look good. She is concerned about "damage" to the heart and is fighting back tears. She tells us that the the surgan that did the by-pass surgery was closing in an adjcent O.R. when this was just starting, and he has now joined in to assist but it really does not look good. She asks if we would like a priest to come in. She goes back to the O.R.

23 agonizing minutes later the nurse returns and tells us "we got him back" and that the procedure he was there for is almost complete. We've got lots of questions but she really cannot tell us much. We understand this as she's the nurse that's there to assist the Drs. and isn't ontop of the patient to see what's going on. While we are talking with her the Dr. that did the by-pass surgery (and came in to assist with this) comes in to talk with us.

What they did: When the I.V. seditive started he crashed, CPR compressions started and the call went out to the By-Pass Dr. to come in and assist ASAP. Chest compressions continued as they opened him back up but had to stop for short periods of time to do things such as applying the anticeptic. As they were getting him opened the By-Pass Dr. joined in. All kinds of cardiac (and other I'm sure) drugs were administered but his heart continued to flutter rather than pump. They manually (by hand) squized his heart to pump blood. Then the cardiac drugs started to kick in and his heart faintly started to pump. His heart began to pump stronger and stronger, a baloon pump was then inserted up through the femoral artery to the heart to assist it's pumping and the procedure was then done.

Big question: "How long was the brain without oxygen?" The Dr. that did this procedure simply stated "We don't know that it was." He is very hopeful that the compressions and manual pumping was able to keep enough blood flowing to feed the brain. Only time will tell.

Once he was back up in the ICU we were allowed to go see him. The plan is to keep him sedated and on a vent for at least the next 3 days to try and start his chest an lungs healing. After 27 hours mother and I went and had something to eat. We called and asked how things were and if we could come back and see him. Sure we could see him. His breathing and blood preasure were stable and he was producing urin. We get there and the nurse is a bit concerened. He is having what appears to be "sleep jerks". It may be seizures, which one of the causes of this would be brain damage.

That's pretty much where we are. We can only wait now and pray. After the second time the nurse had come in we realized the we had never considered DNR orders. It was something that just never came up. Please continue to pray for a full recovery.

Thank you all.

[Blacksmith]

More prayers your way.

[L1A1Rocker]

Very bad news. The neurosurgeon came in today to run his EEG (or whatever it is) and do some other tests. The conclusion is that father has lost all higher function, and most lower function, in his brain. Basically his brain died in the O.R. do to oxygen starvation. Family is coming in tomorrow to to say good bye. Then all the machines will be removed so that nature may take its' course, and father will be at peace.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.

[27judge]

You have my best wishes and prayers. I lost my Mom this week mon the 27th after a long fight with cancer. She died peacefully in her sleep at the great age of 95 ill miss her i know how you feel tks ken

[littlejack]

May our father in heaven give you and your family strength and understanding.
I pray that our heavenly father's will be done, and that your father be with our Lord and savior in
heaven. Amen
Jack

[L1A1Rocker]

Father passed this morning about 3:30am. Thank you all for your prayers.

[Finster101]

My condolences.

Very sorry to hear this news. Lost my Dad suddenly 2 months ago and it realyy sucks. Hope you have lots of friends and family around you.

[littlejack]

My dad passed in 1998, and he is with me every day. In my memories and the things he taught me.
I am sure your father will be beside you forever.
Bless our Lord for taking him home.
Jack

[kbstenberg]

I cry for your loss
Kevin

[crabo]

I'll continue to pray for you and your family every time I open this section. I know what a great loss it is to loss your dad. I'd give anything just to sit down and talk with my dad again.

[rockrat]

I am so sorry to get the news that he had passed. Prayers for you and all the family, for peace and healing.

[Artful]

Sorry to hear that. Let us know if you need anything.

[Lloyd Smale]

more prayers said for him and especialy for you and the family .

[castalott]

May the love of God be with you and yours....

Dale

[Char-Gar]

I am praying..please keep us posted on his progress.

Charles

[GLL]

Very sorry to get that news !

Jerry

[bowfin]

All I can say is I am sorry for those of you who will miss your father being here with them. I hope the sorrow ebbs away quickly.

We would all be better off in the presence of the Lord. Some get there ahead of the rest of us, and that temporary split causes heartache. It's part of the human condition, and knowing how it works doesn't make it easier.

So more prayers for consolation to your family.

[lead-1]

Sorry for your loss, Prayers sent for you and your family. <><

[TAMU74]

I know the pain I felt when my daddy died and I know your heart is very heavy. I found peace in the fact that he is in a far better place and no longer in pain or suffering, but it still left a huge hole in my heart. He no longer needs my prayers because he is in the house of the Lord, but you do and rest assured you have mine.