re: My Dad is in bad shape UPDATE: My Dad, my Hero passed away today.

prayers sent

Prayers offered for your Dad and Mom and your family for his recovery. God bless.

I'm praying for your dad. I was at Broadmoor in the 70's so I might know of him. Aging parents is brutal.

Prayers for a full recovery for your dad.

quote:

---

My Dad (87) had a nasty fall in the Calvin's IGA parking lot on Sunday causing a fractured skull and a brain bleed. He is in OLOL ICU. The scans show minimal swelling, so surgery is not recommended at this time.

---

Roaad, I got chills reading this. Last summer my dad (80) fell in a parking lot. Fractured skull, brain bleed and 3 weeks in ICU at UMC in NOLA. No surgery, but the swelling did not fully recede and there was some permanent damage/scar tissue and he's deaf in one ear. The top teaching neurologist at UMC was frank, and said if you've seen 1,000 brain patients, it's basically the same as having seen one, as no two are the same.

He warned us that he may never talk again, but that we wouldn't know the ultimate outcome for 6 months or so. Weeks later he was walking to the bathroom and composing sentences. He was transferred for 3 weeks of inpatient rehab (after fighting Humana, who wanted to send him to a nursing home) and months of outpatient rehab (physical, speech and occupational), he's doing much better.

He's still not the same and will never drive again, but he has his long-term memory and we can carry on a conversation about football and other things he's passionate about. It was hard selling the truck he used to pull his boat with or to go waterskiing with my son's scout troop. We're thankful they took one last big family trip before his fall - 10 of us in Nashville, where my son told them they'd be great grandparents.

Others had told me to enjoy my parents while they're able to get around, which was good advice as you never know when that will change. Mom and Dad had just driven back from Houston the day before his fall and he was otherwise fine (though two falls in years prior were a warning sign that he dismissed as tripping or losing his balance). Mom went from being their social chairman to being primary caregiver, shuttling him to Dr appointments every week with my wife (he has 8 or 9 specialists). She's also 80 and needs a lot of help, which thankfully my wife can provide, but it's a challenge since he can't be left alone.

If your dad is eligible for the VA, look into that, as they have a lot of resources for both vets and caregivers. The VA sends a sitter twice a week for 4-5 hours so my mom can get out on her own from time to time.

Prayers for the best case scenario for your dad!

so sorry Roaad - i hope he pulls through ok.

my Dad has taken a turn with his Dementia - nurse thinks he has a couple weeks - if we are lucky.

Praying for your Dad and your family.

Sincere prayers sent to your family

Sorry to hear. It's tough to see your old folks in poor health and in the hospital. I hope and pray he recovers.

Going thru a similar situation with my father. My prayers go out to your family.