Much Relieved
Spring has finally hit the Northwest with sunshine and flowers and with it I'm experiencing much relief. This last week has been very tough for my family. My Dad has been experiencing chest pain and late last week they were trying to decide whether to do a bi-pass (doctor's suggestion) or a double angioplasty ( my Dad's decision). They felt the angioplasty would be difficult, but overall my Dad felt the angioplasty would mean less recovery time. So, they did it this morning with a cardiac surgeon on stand-by. I got word a little while ago that all went well and he is in recovery. I've had a cold this week, so even though I live a half mile from him, I could only give a phone call to say how much I love him and couldn't visit at the hospital. Needless to say, I am feeling that at times, things can and do turn out for the best.

I'm relieved too, to hear your Dad's doing well after his op, GG! Send him a :hug from a :nurse and my best wishes. these things really put it all into perspective, don't they? Spring has sprung! It was even warm enough to stand out and blether with the neighbours today. Still very windy, though. I think the March Winds and April Showers got themselves mixed up this year! :roll:

Hi GG, Give your Dad a big hug for me. I'm so sorry he's had trouble,but glad he's getting the attention and care he needs. I'll keep a prayer going for him and your Mom. Believe me, I know firsthand how all that kind of thing goes! Keep us posted on him,okay? Love, Ship

Thanks Stevie and Shipmate for your kind thoughts. I'll give him a huge hug as soon as I get near him. I'm still quite wheezy so, I'm hoping I get over this cold and not run into the problems with pneumonia that I had last Nov-Dec. Concern for aging parents is a tough thing, isn't it? Mine are still quite independent and hopefully if this operation is successful, they will remain so for awhile. We have gorgeous weather today. I never thought I'd say 50 F. sounds warm, but I may be able to shed the coat and wear just a sweater. May even sit outside for awhile.

Don't push your luck there,Pumpkin. Take it slow with that cold,...wouldn't want you to mess yourself up too much,you know? :horatio Now,I'm through sounding like your mother,...............You're so right about the 'parent thing', mine are the same way...but I suppose they worry about us the same way,huh?

Well, I stepped outside to feed the chickens some bread crumbs and realized it was colder than I thought. Darn wind. Maybe I can sit on my covered patio and watch the grass grow. Yes, Dad and Mom still think their more than grown (with children of their own) children need some watching over and they are ever ready to do it. And of course, when they take their RV Trips, we worry the whole time.

I can imagine how worried you and your family must have been in the days between when your father first experienced chest pain and when he had his angioplasty done, GG. It's a relief to hear his angioplasty went well and your father is in recovery. If you haven't already, I hope you'll fully recover from your cold very soon.

Thanks so much Frances. It has been a worrisome time. Hard to keep your mind on work when all this is going on. But, I just talked to my sister and they were setting him up in his room, so - so far, so good.

I'm glad your dad's surgery went well. That kinda stuff is always scary. I hope your cold goes away soon. :hug

Glad things are better
GG I am so glad your dad is better. It really is a miracle what doctors (and nurses!!!) can do! We expect so much from them, but they really are just people! Faith helps, too! And family and friends. Take care of yourself so you can spend lots of time with your family!!! Its sunny but cold here too. I did take the dog for a long walk but was so bundled up I could barely move!!! :cold: It can be nice to enjoy the sun from a window with a nice mug of hot tea in your hands! The mug is like a hug! :coffee :group hug Take care and everyone enjoy the very timid, slowly crawling spring! Snogg :Horatio wink:

Thanks Blue Eyes and Snogg. It is scary when you know that you may be speaking to someone you love for the last time. It happened to me a few years ago, when I spoke to a very close friend on Tues night and on Weds. morning got an unexpected call from her husband that she had passed away. I think that experience made this one scarier because you know that the unthinkable really can happen. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound morose as this time has turned out so much better. I think it just makes you appreciate those you love while they are here. And that some things we think are so important are really insignificant. And you both are right, there are so many miraculous things being done by Doctors these days. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

It's not really morose, GG. these things make us reflect. Whenever a friend is facing something like this, it takes me right back sixteen years to the moment I left my fourteen month old son in the anaesthetic room, knowing it was 50/50 he came out of surgery alive.(and now look at him!) Your whole world is focussed in that moment and everything else stops. One of the most fulfilling parts of my job now, is helping other parents through that moment, whatever the outcome. All my best wishes to your Dad, GG - and everyone else's! Much is said about Mums, and rightly so,but Dads are something special too!

Thanks Stevie. It does make you appreciate what you have doesn't it? And that son of yours is doing quite well indeed. Last night, Mom said it had been difficult, but baring any bleeds he could actually come home today. She said a Korean doctor had quite good results on this particular procedure. Evidently, the location of his blockage was unusual for angioplasty.

Hey Gaff - I only just now read this. I'm very happy to hear all went well with your dad. Heart issues are very scary aren't they? We've had a couple scares in my family within recent years concerning heart problems. I'm glad all that was needed was the angioplasty and not a full fledged bipass or anything. Definite big :hug to you and your family! And yes, don't be deceived by "warm" temps honey bun - stay bundled! Don't let that pesky cold turn into something more serious. We don't want our precious Gaffer's Girl to be missed due to very bad illness. As for Spring - well, it's been a little better the past 2 days here. Although downtown (being lakefront) has been cooler than the burbs where I live. But we've actually seen that bright, warm, yellow glowing blob in the sky for 2 whole days now!!! :clap: It's exciting. However they're calling for rain again tonight..........but what are you going to do? It's Spring, as long as we get warmer everything else is peanuts. Well until the lakes and rivers begin to overflow. :unsure: :happy On the medical front: my grandmother had a colonoscopy done yesterday. The doctor found a mass in her colon but hasn't determined if it's cancerous or not. We're praying that it's not, but I believe he did a biopsy as well. I don't know when we'll find out, but hopefully it's soon. The kicker about yesterday is she had to go to the hospital for this procedure (of course), but the closest hospital to us is about 30-45 minutes drive. Nice huh? But to top it off, the nursing staff were really rude and nasty to her. It's upsetting because we've never had problems with this hospital before. My mom had both kids at this hospital and the staff there was great. I guess maybe cuz this is a different ward??? I don't know, but they were just not kind or helpful at all with her. They kept confusing her on her meds - she's diabetic and she's on heart medication. Apparently her doctor instructed her to take the heart medication and the nurse yelled at her for it - saying the doctors don't know what they're talking about. Nice. *sigh* But hopefully all turns out well and she won't have to go back.

I'm sorry to hear your grandmother had to be hospitalized for a colonscopy, Gnat. I really hope the biopsy won't reveal she has cancer. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. I'm also sorry to hear the nursing staff were really rude and nasty to her. I know what this means, as I saw this happening to my grandmother, too, and I felt really bad when I saw this happening and had several arguments with the nursing staff about the way they dealt with their patients.