Thursday

Nancy, Mother and I got to the hospital at the same time this morning.
Here is Nancy's summary:
Dad looked pretty good this morning. He ate ALL of his breakfast-cleaned his plate! Rusty and Mom and Dad are all awaiting the Heart Surgeon to arrive to update them on Dad and possibly release to the Regency Hospital today. They are also awaiting a possible "draining" of Dad's left lung. This would done via needle aspiration I believe. This would hopefully help with the persistent "crackle" in his lung.

We had our "last" update and exam from the cardiologist this morning. He did tell us that the cardiac surgeon would have to clear us in order for us to move. Like Nancy said, there may be one more procedure to express the persistent congestion in his left lung.

The hospitalist also came in and wanted us to know that his group had cleared Dad and had some last recommendations for us and had updated the chart from their end.

The rehab liaison brought in paper work for us to read and let us know the approx. timing of transfer if Dad was released.

I made sure Mom and Dad had understood that we may not be leaving today, and that it was okay, we want to make sure that Dad is ready to hit the ground shuffling when he gets to the rehab. I think we are all in a good place with all of this now.

Dad had a busy morning with the meals, doctors, nurses, meds, and PT. He was pretty tuckered out when "little" Jamie rolled in from Little Rock. Mom and Dad had lunch at 12:30 p.m. and at 1:00 p.m. I told them that I was going to speed up the surgeon's visit by going to lunch. I knew he would come while I was gone. Right on cue, he showed after I left.

The following is Nancy's report:
Mom just called and said Dr. Weiss (surgeon) would like to get a side x-ray of Dad's lung before doing a fluid removal. The x-ray is scheduled for later this afternoon and then they will act on it tomorrow sometime. A bed at Regency Springdale will open up at 3 pm today. Mom wasn't sure they would "hold" it for us. So if someone else needs it right away - they might give it away - leaving no beds at Regency Springdale or Fayetteville. So at least for tonight and possibly for a few more days - he will still be Washington Regional - Room 3318.

To clarify a bit, the surgeon wants Dad to lay on his side for a few minutes before the xray so he can determine if the fluid levels out or if it is entrenched in one area of his lung. This will determine how he approaches the treatment of it.

Jamie just sent a text, Dad is on his way to xray after walking about 70 to 80 feet. he wants "to do more of that, otherwise I won't get any stronger".

We will be in WRMC for at least one more day...

Results from xray to come...

Gog is good!