Michael ([info]elmo_iscariot) wrote,
2008-12-26 00:47:00
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Short-version update, part II:

This morning, a bunch of you may have heard "he's awake". This may have been slightly overstating the case. It's better, but not all over yet. [ETA: We got lots of congratulatory text messages that there wasn't time to respond to this morning. All of you, thanks for thinking of us; it felt really good to have my phone keep beeping so fast I couldn't keep up. :) ]

He's off all the drugs and sedatives; they're just feeding him saline. They got him out of restraints. He's unconscious for most of the time, but has moments of waking, in which he'll reach up and rub his eyes; open his eyes, find the people in the room, and focus on them; put his arms up to get more comfortable; answer questions with a nod; or try to pull out his ventilator line.

He raised his finger and gave a thumbs-up to the neurosurgeon when prompted. He waved goodbye to my uncle. He reached out to my mom and put his arm around her as best he could. He recognized me, and started crying when I told him I loved him.

He isn't coherent enough to come off the ventilator yet (and isn't happy about it) and doesn't seem together enough to talk yet anyway, but this is a huge improvement over the log impression he was doing all yesterday. It's tangible, the relief around here. We're all out of the "dear God, what if he never wakes up" stage, and into the "how long will it be, and will he have any impairment" stage. That step up has had a huge affect on us. The potential physical complications we've been worrying about have dried up one by one, and his mind is gradually clawing its way back to us.

So far, for me this crisis has lasted about 56 hours. It feels like it's been a week. I have to keep reminding myself how quickly he's gotten to this point.

I can't explain how much all your support has meant to me, and all of us here are inexpressibly grateful for all the good will that's been sent our way, but don't feel too bad for me. All day, people at the hospital were apologizing for the crappy Christmas I must be having, but they misunderstand. As my Christmas present, I got my dad shaking and crying with relief as he recognized my voice in the darkness. Nobody could possibly give me anything better.

... Well, okay; Gail came close with the Wii. But my father's love is still ahead by a nose.
Tags: dad

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  • 22 comments

[info]haunted_spark

December 26 2008, 06:12:59 UTC 3 years ago

i almost teared up for a second during that last paragraph and then i read the last line and laughed like a douche.


hope you got my texts, my phone is being retarded.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 26 2008, 06:19:44 UTC 3 years ago

Jerk! ;)

I got your text, BTW, and a bunch from other people, too. There wasn't time to respond to them all at the time, so I'm adding a note to the post. Thanks again for thinking of us, man.

[info]haunted_spark

December 26 2008, 06:35:45 UTC 3 years ago

i didn't expect a response. my phone is one them there smartphones and sometimes it's too smart and i save the message for days and then it sends weeks later


also I am techoretard

[info]jr0124

December 26 2008, 06:20:34 UTC 3 years ago

I'm glad things are looking better. The waiting and hovering and grasping at small gains is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences a person can endure. The uncertainty is awful.

If you can, give yourself permission to spend some time out of crisis mode for a little while, even if it's just to have a meal and spend time away from the hospital. You'll need that brief recharge to handle the next session.

Also, give yourself and the people around you permission to be insane right now. You're going through an insane experience and feeling and occasionally acting insane is perfectly okay right now. If people don't understand, then tough. One day they will understand and they'll think of you.

Take care. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 26 2008, 06:31:29 UTC 3 years ago

Thanks for thinking of us.

If you can, give yourself permission to spend some time out of crisis mode for a little while, even if it's just to have a meal and spend time away from the hospital. You'll need that brief recharge to handle the next session.

Don't worry; I'm being pragmatic about my limitations here. :)

This morning, I actually missed his really good early responses because the girls and I stayed behind to make breakfast and get ourselves together while my mom took the early shift. I'm okay with this; I'm just a phone call away, and came straight in when that call came. We've been taking turns going out to get food (I had my first ever Christmas-eve dinner in a casino burger joint!), and to take breaks watching the Mythbusters marathon. Tomorrow, my mom's taking the early shift again while I take a trip to a local shop I'd been planning on visiting before the crisis. I'll be here for my dad until he's okay, but that doesn't mean running myself ragged spending every moment next to the hospital bed.

This isn't to say we don't have to beg and bargain to get my mom to take breaks and eat something now and then, mind you. ;)

[info]javadave4

December 26 2008, 07:30:07 UTC 3 years ago

hey. i hadn't seen these events till now. Just wishing you guys well.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:51:35 UTC 3 years ago

Thankee; doing much, much better now. :)

[info]fearsclave

December 26 2008, 11:02:42 UTC 3 years ago

Good news, that. And as far as Christmas presents go, that's a good thing.

Here's hoping for a full and speedy recovery for your dad.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:52:55 UTC 3 years ago

Best Christmas present ever; even better Boxing Day present. :)

He's well on his way, and the doctors are pretty confident he'll see a full recovery soon.

[info]fearsclave

December 28 2008, 14:48:27 UTC 3 years ago

And there was much rejoicing in the frozen wastelands.

Glad to hear it!

Deleted comment

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:53:35 UTC 3 years ago

It's great, me too, it definitely is, and I will. :)

[info]jinxvirus

December 26 2008, 16:01:07 UTC 3 years ago

!!!! It's a good day :)

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:53:47 UTC 3 years ago

Today's even better!

[info]weerdbeard

December 26 2008, 16:20:10 UTC 3 years ago

This is good news! Good health and a world of love to all of you this Christmas!

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:54:09 UTC 3 years ago

Thankee; we're all very, very happy down here.

[info]kurgan_lyonesse

December 26 2008, 17:22:42 UTC 3 years ago

i've been there and understand. remind your mom (who as a heathcare professional shoud know this) to rest so she'll have the strength to help when it's needed. i'm really glan to hear everythings headed for the good. can't wait to hear he's back home photocataloging.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:55:31 UTC 3 years ago

Doing my best, but she's almost as stubborn as he is. In a couple hours, she's coming home for food, a shower, and generally to take care of herself. With any luck, we'll be able to talk her into taking more down time now that he's out of the worst of it.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:57:36 UTC 3 years ago

Bee-tee-dubya, who's that in your icon?

[info]kurgan_lyonesse

December 28 2008, 15:37:50 UTC 3 years ago

me, from about 2002. it's a photo gwen took at haunted village, you can almost make out the shulder armor Acosta made for me.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 29 2008, 04:21:48 UTC 3 years ago

When you posted this, it was a Tila Tequila-looking chick in a crocheted bating suit. Maybe you were a victim of this weird LJ icon bug that's going around.

[info]kylecassidy

December 28 2008, 04:40:07 UTC 3 years ago

that is such fabulous news. a new day to celebrate.

[info]elmo_iscariot

December 28 2008, 13:56:01 UTC 3 years ago

I know, right? :D

Awesome, awesome Christmas.
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