Saturday, October 30, 2004
Dad Update
My father arrived home from the hospital Friday and is doing fine. Just has to take it easy and be careful. He can’t talk on the phone because he can’t hold his arm up that long or keep his head in that position.
I just remembered after getting the update that this all means he won’t be coming down to Massachusetts and meeting Deb’s parents while they are here. That’s too bad. But far more important that he’s okay and doesn’t strain himself, as he has a habit of doing after surgery or by working again when he’s still very sick. Good thing he’s retired now.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Dad Update
I just got a call from my stepmother to update us on the surgery.
It took four hours. His heart stopped twice in reaction to something they used, don’t know what, so he’s about to go into the ICU for 24 hours. She hasn’t seen him yet, but will soon.
The tumor was benign. It was different from what they expected; “on the root,” whatever that means. My stepmother said Caltechgirl (who seems to have been absent lately) would probably be able to explain it.
They didn’t get all of it, due to the risk of making functionality in his left arm worse, but they did get most of it.
For those new to the situation, my father’s right arm and hand are bad due to polio when he was eight. The right had some helper functionality, but has become almost completely useless with age. He isn’t naturally left-handed, but had to do the bulk of everything with that side.
In recent years the left has gone downhill, seemingly from computer use and less exercise, and he ended up with carpal tunnel surgery. Whatever help that gave didn’t last, and things kept getting worse, encompassing more of the arm, and toward the end the left leg. After a series of scans and exams, they discovered a tumor pushing on the left side of his spine.
This was the surgery to remove it and regain proper use of the left arm, before it could be lost completely and leave him helpless.