My dad

[ForMyPapa]

Hi, Everyone:

My dad who is 77 years old, has been in the ICU since the beginning of this month. First, he went to the hospital for a minor surgery to remove a benign cyst (pre-cancerous). The surgery went well, but one or two days after while he was still in the hospital, he choked on some food and water, he got aspiration pneumonia. Prior to this, he was healthy. He practiced golf everyday and went horseback riding once or twice a week. He was still working also.

The pneumonia got worse very quickly, so they doubted covid and interstitial pneumonia. He was put on steroids for 3 days. But on day 2, they didn't see any improvement so they started a mask type ventilator. He got better for the next two days, but he started to feel uncomfortable. So they decided to put him in an induced coma and intubate him. He continued to get better for the next 5, 6 days. Anesthetic was light at this point so he probably felt the tubes or mucus and one morning he coughed severely. That caused an opening / hole in his lungs. But Later we were explained that the opening was temporary and now it is closed and he went back to the same treatment shortly after. But during this time, air was leaking so his lungs got significantly worse. This was on 9/13.

Since then, he is still on the ventilator and in an induced coma. They lowered his oxygen to 45%. When it was at its worst, it was 75%. I know that he is fighting to be with us and come home. When his anesthesia is light during the day, I ask him to keep on fighting, he nods. When I told him that the nurse said it is good to synchronise the breathing rhythm with the ventilator, he tried to adjust.

So I know that he is fighting.

But the doctors have been empathizing on poor prognosis for the last two weeks. Yesterday, one of them even mentioned two patients with the similar condition passing away on the weekend. They said that it is not getting worse, but it is not getting significantly better, so because of his age, they think he will slowly decline…..

Please everyone, send me prayers and positive vibes. The doctor will talk to us today. I want to stay strong and be brave for him and believe that a miracle can happen no matter what they say. I cannot give up on my dad. No like this.

[Sepsur]

I hope your family have more positive news over the next few days

[ForMyPapa in reply to Sepsur]

Thank you for your kind reply. Today, he had a tracheostomy surgery. We are hoping that this will give him a better chance for recovery...

[Sepsur in reply to ForMyPapa]

it did for me

[BigH63]

Hi. I hope he pulls through. I was in a similar position back in Jan 2023. I had pneumonia among a raft of other serious issues and like you’re dad it was touch and go for me for a month. I went forward and backwards while in a coma. I have it my best and thank god pulled through eventually after 6 weeks. There is hope and with fantastic teams things can work out. Good luck fir you and you’re family.

[ForMyPapa in reply to BigH63]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear that you were had pneumonia and it sounds like your journey was not straight forward. That must have been so hard for you and your family. But it gives me hope to hear from soneone who recovered. My dad just had a tracheostomy yesterday, so we are hoping that this will give him a better chance of recovery.

[ZanderB]

Am praying for you both and sending positive vibes! Miracles sometimes happen and it sounds as though he’s fighting hard. Best wishes.

[ForMyPapa in reply to ZanderB]

Thank you so much. I really hope to come back here and report good news soon.

[Copse77]

I hope the best for your Dad and your family. Everyone is an individual and respond differently so remain strong like your Dad.

[ForMyPapa in reply to Copse77]

Thank you so much. The doctors' poor prognosis has been very discouraging but I will try my best to stay strong for my dad like you said.

[JBean123]

I’m sorry to hear about your Dad, and hope that you have received some positive news over the last few days. How is your Dad getting on? He certainly sounds like he is very determined to get better and I hope this has given you strength.

We too were called into a room on 3 occasions explaining that palliative care was the only option and they had placed a DNR on Dad, we continued to request more time so that Dad was given the support needed and nothing was withdrawn we contested the DNR and had it lifted pending a further MDT, all just of which bought us time, at one stage Dad was on 95% O2 and saturating at less than 92% (this is when we were offered morphine to let him go- we refused) and i know he was very bad and had pneumonia on his lungs along with heart failure that was flooding his lungs with fluid, and it took time but he got there, they supported his organs whilst he slept and we encouraged him to stay with us, and of course everyone is different and has a different journey, but just make sure your Dad is afforded the time and support to heal, and stay strong.

Dad has been home two weeks from hospital after almost 100 days in hospital with most of them on ICU so miracles do happen- like your Dad he is very sporty, golf, tennis, walking, horseback riding, and they have said it was his underlying health which allowed his body to go through so much and survive what most others wouldn’t. It’s why they had to give us the worst case scenario so many occasions.

Dr’s can’t give anything outside of the facts and the prognosis based on those facts, and though we all desperately want reassurance, the doctors can’t provide that when someone is very poorly but they are amazing at treating and being these silent heroes. Stay strong thinking of you all.

[ForMyPapa in reply to JBean123]

Thank you so much for your message. I am really sorry to hear that you had go through such an unimaginably difficult time... I am so relieved to hear that your father is home now. That gives me hope.

Since the post, they told us that he was stable enough to have tracheostomy and it was fitted a few days ago. His oxygen was lowered to 40% now. We are hoping that this will give him more time to heal. As you said, the doctors are more cautious but they are doing an incredible job to keep him alive. I am very grateful.

[NSMOD]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[ForMyPapa in reply to NSMOD]

Thank you!