Time Flies When You're Having Fun...

... and it sure DRAGS when you're not! Dad passed out after lunch on Monday, so this is still only about 50 hours in, but it feels like he's been in the hospital at least a week!

THE HAPS: We are all doing well. This morning was a little rough for Mom, because she found out that Dad was taken off the sedative (Versed) that has been on since the emergency procedure. The nurse told Mom that Dad had stopped getting Versed yesterday at 2:00 p.m., but that was proven wrong by the anesthesiologist, who told us that Dad was actually on Versed all the way through the embolization procedure yesterday (through 7:00 p.m.). The nurse tried to check Dad's charts to see who made the decision to take Dad off the sedative, but she could not tell.

This was particularly concerning, because Dad's neurosurgeon told us after the initial surgery that he wanted Dad's to be doped up (on Versed) for four days, at which time they would "wake him up." Patients who have AVMs often wake up after the embolization and before the surgery to remove the embolized AVM, but the neurosurgeon didn't want Dad to do that because of the extent of the trauma and risks that could arise if he was awoken. The doctor who likely made the order (though there is no record of such order) has his name written on the white-board in Dad's room, but none of us have met the guy and we don't know if he's even seen Dad in person.

This ordeal upset Mom a little - and understandably so. She was concerned that Dad hadn't woken up on his own if he was off Versed. The anesthesiologist, who looks like he could be Dad's younger brother, and the radiologist talked to Mom and have continued to be very helpful. They explained (separately) that Dad likely has lots of residual Versed in his system that his body will continue to metabolize out. Also, the brain is still swollen and traumatized by everything that has happened, so it will be a veeeeeerrrrrryy slow waking up process (not like actually waking up in the morning - we're talking days, not minutes). Further, the brain stem is still under pressure from the embolized AVM. That is what caused him to lose consciousness initially, and it will continue to hamper his ability to wake up. The plan is to alleviate that pressure by removing the mass of delinquent arteries and veins during the next surgery, and we will likely have a better picture of Dad's prognosis after that happens.

THE NEXT SURGERY: Dad is scheduled for his big surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30. I don't know how long it will last, but it will surely take several hours. Again, it is a high-risk surgery and prayers are appreciated. They took a CAT scan this afternoon to specifically locate the embolized area. We assume that they will be going in the base of his skull and cutting out the mass from there. But we don't know many details just yet.

Some GOOD NEWS: Dad is now breathing on his own, with the respirator serving as an oxygen supplement and back-up if he stops breathing. He is cranking out 13-15 deep breaths/minute. He also tried to chew on the implement used by the nurse to suck out the saliva from his mouth. These are good signs. While it was exciting to see that little movement, it was a little strange afterward to see the nurse yelling at Dad to wake up, without any response. He shrugged his shoulder a little bit when someone grabbed his trapezius muscle. And he also had a spike in his blood pressure when the anesthesiologist pushed on his toe nail with some metal. It's amazing to step back and think about how small these baby steps are... really makes us appreciate the gift of life and (mostly) healthy bodies. With each encouraging sign, no matter how small, we thank God and know that Dad is safe in His hands.

A good friend, Mark Restrepo, sent me a couple of verses that really hit home for me today:

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." - Romans 12:12

"[God] has made everything new in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

And, finally, I close for today with a quote from a friend's facebook profile, of all places: "You are immortal until God is done with you." I pray that God is NOT done with Dad.