The first hospital visit

(On Aug. 27, we made our first visit to the hospital to see dad.  His breathing was raspy and his voice more like a high-pitched croak than anything else.  "I used to be a baritone," he kept apologizing to the nurses.  For the first time, it hit me that this could be "it".  It also hit him, and we could tell.)

"This is Andy Snider - CBC."
He rarely went on the air, but I'll
always remember how he introduced
himself over the phone.

By now, many of you are aware that my dad landed in hospital on Monday with what turned out to be a "significant heart attack".  Here's the update:-- he is alert and in very good humour (it helped that his grandson and granddaughter came to see him today)

• he's determined to go home
• his heart is still in shock
• he has pneumonia
• he also has congestive heart failure and
• his kidneys are under-performing

Before we brought the kids up, the medical team gave us The Talk: what to do if things take a bad turn -- which is likely.  Dad reaffirmed that his "Do Not Resuscitate" instruction on his Living Will stands.  Nevertheless, there was a flicker of recognition across his face that this time, it was for real.

Something very good from this is that Amelia, Aidan and Hannah have finally had a chance to meet and get to know each other.  And it DEFINITELY lifted dad's spirits to see those two walk in with us!

Of course, no one's admitting defeat at this stage.  When the doctors came in and discussed options if things take a bad turn, dad said defiantly, "well, it's going to get better."  I think that was more for our benefit than his.  It's all up to God now.  (which is kind of a silly thing for a human to say, isn't it?)

Aidan, too, put in his two bits' worth.  He and Amelia stepped outside the room, and he said to her, "it's not his time yet".

From the Apple Falleth Not Far From The Tree department:  we're hanging out in dad's hospital room -- Amelia, Aidan, Hannah and I -- and a nurse suddenly bustles in and squints at the monitors.  "Did you experience a heart flutter just now?"  Without missing a beat, Aidan shot back, "only when you walked in!"  The poor nurse didn't know whether to burp or go blind!  She turned a lovely shade of red, though.  Amelia's sitting there, shaking her head, saying, "three generations of men in this room, and any one of them could have said that!"