Tuesday May 26

Today they switched out dad's feeding tube because the old one was clogged and they gave him another swallowing test.

He felled the swallowing test. They were hoping to see that he would be able to drink stuff that wasn't so thick and eat different types of food. But for whatever reason dad went backwards. On the test when he ate or drink something it was going into his lungs some. This isn't good and it can cause a type of pneumonia which is really bad. So they are putting him back on getting all his nutrition via the feeding tube. No food or drinks are to go into his mouth until he gets tested again. Usually they wait 2 weeks before they test again but since it appears that dad will be coming home next week they will try to move up the swallowing test to before he leaves the hospital.

The feeding tube......something happened. After dad was back in his room for a little over an hour I looked and he was bleeding. I ran for a nurse. He was bleeding really really bad from around the feeding tube. It took forever for the PA to get the bleeding stopped. Part of the reason is that dad is on blood thinners so the blood wasn't clotting. Even though they got the bleeding stopped dad will be getting some frozen plasma (a blood product) to help beef up his blood and help it to clot. I am hoping that there will be no more problems with the bleeding.

Oh, dad is still having problems urinating so it was decided to put in a permanent catheter. This is fine with me and dad. Dad said that when he could urinate he didn't feel the urge and would wet himself. So this makes him feel better.

I talked to dad's case manager today. I will attend a meeting tomorrow that will have everyone that takes care of dad in it (this is not special for me, they have this meeting every week for the staff and occasionally family members can come) so everyone will know that dad is coming home and what do I need and need to know to be able to take care of him. I will also be setting up appointments to learn how to change the wound dressing, take care of the colostomy, physical therapy, and if he still has a feeding tube how to take care of that. The case worker asked if I would be able to do everything and I told her I have no choice. He will come home and I am the only one to take care of him. It's that simple. Of course a nurse and a physical therapist will come to the house but I don't know how often.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me. And we really need that miracle about him being strong enough to get out of bed and into a wheel chair. We really really need it.

Kathy