A slight change on the blog entries from my original plan… but I want to ask you all to say a prayer, think a positive thought, anything, for my dad. I got a phone call this morning from my step-mom down in South Carolina letting me know that my dad had had a minor heart attack last night! He complained to her that he was not feeling well and needed to go to the hospital early last night so they rushed out the door.
They were admitted immediately and apparently he had the actual heart attack AT the hospital which was the best case scenario as they were able to get everything under control so quickly his heart is showing no damage in regards to the attack. However they DID find two arteries clogged – one 90% and the other 70-80%. By 6:30 or so this morning they did the procedure to unclog the 90% one. With it taking so long to do they decided to wait on the other which is non life threatening at this point. So he will be in hospital for at least another day or two. Then he is home for 2 weeks off work, just in time for the next procedure. So it looks like a month off work.
Luckily my stepsister is home with them for now as well – her husband was deployed to Kuwait on Monday (so think kindly on him as well please) so I know that my stepmom has someone on hand to help out and lean on. I cannot afford the trip down which is really hard to take and right now dad does NOT have a phone in his room or anything ( he was in the icu this morning). BUT my stepmom is working on it, along with getting the internet to him. So I could always make a video message for him from us and the kids.
So like my stepmom said – the news is good and bad – the good news is everyone is OK, the bad news is how they got to being ok. They are in a terrific hospital that has been right on the ball the whole time, from them walking in the door of emergency onwards… he has gotten through the first procedure with flying colours and is resting well… but so scary!
What the doctor has said is that he needs to make a dietary change (seriously you do NOT want to read about his favourite food choices, not heart friendly) and start an exercise regiment. These are all easy things to deal with. He will also be on some new medications and actually HAVE TO go to the doctor more regularily (another fun fact we will leave out is when his last visit to a doctor was). So some common sense changes and he should be just fine! Funny thing – same basic procedure as what our Echo has to go through in a couple months!! Go figure!
Quite the harsh reality to wake up to, as a total Daddy’s Girl it is hard to have to face the reality that your dad is growing a wee bit older and is rather human. So I am sending all the love I can, hugging my babies tight and praying he will go home in a couple days and then this is the start of a much healthier and LONG life. Please please keep us all in your thoughts!!! It has been well over a year since I have seen my dad in person and with this, it is looking like it may just be another one!
So as far as I know he is in the hospital for a few more days and then home to REST. I hope to Skype or something with him soon. Love you Daddy!
Our visit with Grandpa Reinsch back last July for Canada Day!!!