Yesterday afternoon, when we went to visit Dad in intensive care, they were giving him a blood transfusion because his blood count had been low... and they told us they were concerned that he hadn't really woken up properly since the surgery. He was still pretty unresponsive, just staring into space. Medical staff didn't really know why, but thought it might be because his kidneys aren't working, that he hasn't really eliminated the anaesthetic and isn't totally conscious yet after Friday's surgery. The doctor said yesterday that the chances of recovery are probably less than 50%, but they haven't given up hope yet. He said they may do a tracheostomy on Monday or Tuesday, so that the ventilator tube enters through his throat and not through his mouth - thus reducing discomfort and the risk of further infection. Dad's almost at the point that he could breathe on his own.... but isn't doing so, because of not being totally awake yet.
We left the hospital in the afternoon, with rather a heavy feeling in our hearts, and could only pray that Dad would begin to wake up properly and start to improve again. Last night, when we went back to the hospital, there had already been quite a change in him since the afternoon: he was starting to wake up, and the nurse was really encouraged that he was beginning to move and respond a bit more again. There was a more obvious sense that he was able to hear us and follow us with his eyes. If he continues to improve like that, there might still be a chance that they'll be able to get him breathing on his own without having to do the tracheostomy. We just need to pray that there are no more complications and setbacks.
Both my Mum and brother have also struggled with a sense of anger that my Dad was actually feeling so well before he went into hospital.. and now he's lying lifeless and unresponsive on a bunch of machines that are keeping him alive. My Mum had had misgivings about his having the surgery, and she'd been wishing that they'd decided not to do it. But yesterday's nurse had shared this with one of the doctors and last night she told us the doctor said that the decision to have surgery was the right one: the lump in Dad's intestine was large and would soon have caused an obstruction, probably within the next two or three months, which means Dad would have ended up having to have emergency surgery anyway. So that has helped resolve the awful feeling of regret they've had about going ahead with the surgery.
We felt a little more positive as we left the hospital again last night. However, as the doctors say, Dad is critically ill and there is still "a long way to go." I am conscious of being upheld by your prayers. Thank you so much for standing with us in this difficult time.
