Preparing for Scotty's Hip Surgery

Hi everyone.  I realize I only use this blog when someone is in the hospital. I need to change that (some day).  Scotty goes in for his surgery tomorrow morning.  It is a valgus femoral osteotomy to his left hip/femur which will help straighten the leg and improve his stride and balance (see video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rCjHc2IjI).  I will post updates as we get information.

Phil

Dad - June 12

Hi all - greetings from hot and humid Houston. Dad is doing much better and looks to get out of the hospital and into a rehab facility early next week. They are just waiting for his Cumadin levels to increase. He is more active and alert and eager to get stronger. His spirits are good and he is thinking about where to go next after rehab. He is still having trouble coughing and clearing is throat but the doctors think he is fine for now and that they will follow his progress and see if anything needs to be done to his throat after he is out of the hospital. He can use his cell phone so feel free to give him a call at 617-835-5864.

Phil

Dad - June 5

Hi all,

Sorry for the lack of updates. Dad's recent improvement has been very gradual but steady. Helen is with him and says that he was restless today, but in a good way. He wants to get out of the ICU and into a rehab facility. We believe we have found the right place and hope to get him there in the next couple of days. He is mostly off of the respirator and is set up with a web cam in case anyone wants to Skype with him (paul.polishuk). Dad still needs to gain more strength and stamina, but he seems up to the challenge. Thanks to everyone for their love and support over the past few weeks.

Phil

Dad - May 31

Hi all - Dad continues to progress and get better. He had a thracheostomy on Friday so that they could take out his breathing tube. He now connects to the ventilator through the tube in his throat. We hope this is a short term solution and that he won't need it longer. He was sitting up today and is relying on the ventilator less and less. Paul is looking at rehab facilities in Houston today. Hopefully we can get him out of the hospital soon. Helen arrives on Weds for the next shift.

Phil

Dad - May 27

Good progress yesterday. They stopped his sedation so that he could breath with less help from the respirator and could wake up and recognize people (like me!). He is still groggy and tired, but was able to understand questions and respond (non-verbally). Hoepfully he had a good night and they will remove the breathing tube today. They still need to solve the problem of secretions in his throat and lungs, which may be caused by nerve damage to his throat but we won't know until they can remove the breathing tube. I hope to post another update from the airport this afternoon. Paul arrives tomorrow for the weekend and Helen follows next week. Have a great holiday weekend and send healing thoughts Dad's way.

Phil

Dad - May 26

Hi all. Dad continues to rest and is stable in the ICU. His lungs are slowly getting better and the doctors hope to be able to take out the breathing tube in the next couple of days. The good news is that his kidneys continue to function well enough to not need dialysis. I hope to have more good news to report later today.

Phil

Update on Dad: Tuesday, May 25

Hi all. This week is my shift in Houston with my Dad. He is currently in the ICU, on a respirator and sedated. He has some fluid in his lungs that they need to clear before the respirator can be removed. We are hopeful that will happen in the next 24 hours. His kidneys seem to be slowly coming back and there is hope they will regain full function over time.

For those who may not know, dad had surgery two weeks ago in Houston for an aortic aneuryism. The surgery went well from a cardiac perspective, but there were two complications. One is the functioning of his kidneys. They weren't working right away but it looks like they may come back. The other is paralysis in his legs. Unfortunately it doesn't look like that will come back. Dad has been incredibly strong about this and is eager to get on with the next phase of his life. We just need to get him healthy and out of hospital so he can begin the rehabilitation process.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support. I will continue to provide updates as frequently as I can, but feel free to send emails or call. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks,

Phil