My Uncle Don has always been one of the sweetest, kindest men I have ever known. He was married to my mother's sister for 50+ years before she passed away almost 2 years ago.
When I was growing up they lived just 3 houses away with their children, Sally and Drew.
When Thomas was born they moved only less than a mile away so we were close in proximity and in relationship.
He was always a great teacher and he tutored me in physics in college.
Around the first week of March he had bypass surgery. He was eager and ready to have it because he had been feeling tired and short of breath for quite awhile. He is 82 years old and had never had surgery before this.
Unfortunately, the whole ordeal has been pretty much a nightmare in that every little thing that could have possibly gone wrong HAS gone wrong. I don't want to be negative but just have to write about all of it.
First, he waited all day without food to have surgery and at 4:00 they came and told him that the surgery would have to be put off until the next day because of complications with the previous surgery. No big deal except for the hunger!
Next, after he had the surgery ( which as it turns out he had to have 6 bypasses instead of 3) and was still in recovery they noticed that he was bleeding internally so they had to open him back up and take care of that. No big deal, right?
Then, instead of getting off the oxygen that they give you after surgery in 4 hours or so, which is normal, he had oxygen for 48 hours. But, after he got off he was pretty much OK except that his throat was very sore.
While recovering in the hospital room they discovered that he had an irregular heartbeat. Not so great for someone whose heart was NOT irregular before the surgery.
He also needed to have a wound pump in one of his incisions so that fluid could drain.
He went home on March 16th with the wound pump in tow. The physical therapists, occupational therapists, wound pump changing nurses,etc. all came into his home to do their jobs and try to help him get his strength back.
During his post op visit to the Dr he had 1 liter of fluid drained from his lungs. The Dr reprimanded him for not moving around enough!
On April 4th, he developed a fever so he returned to the hospital. They discovered that he had slight pneumonia and a staff infection. ....In come the high powered antibiotics in an IV.
Meanwhile, he still has the irregular heartbeat so they shock his heart! It worked UNTIL Monday morning when he was getting ready to leave the hospital. The Doctor was in his room with his release papers when he looked at the monitor and said, "What is this?"
Irregular heartbeat again!
SOOOOO, he does not leave and the Dr gives him medicine (pills) for the heart to beat correctly. When I was there Monday afternoon he had taken 2 pills and the heartbeat was still irregular.
So, best case scenario, the medicine will work for the irreg. heartbeat and he will go home on Wednesday with another IV for 2 weeks for the staff infection.
Anyway, I am concerned about Uncle Don. He looks so tired and weary and he has had an ORDEAL to say the least.
Please pray for him!
