Prayer request for my Dad

I apologize if I'm not posting this correctly, but I kindly request any prayers that you might offer for my Dad. About six weeks ago, my Dad went to the Cardiologist (after months of feeling increasingly sluggish). It turned that a previous lingering cold gave him a heart infection that (although gone at the time) reduced his heart function dramatically. ..to about 15%. They gave him a vest that acted as a defib and compression to strengthen the heart. He was feeling much better but last night he exhibited heart attack symptoms and was rushed via ambulance to the hospital. All of his tests came back normal, but right before he was going to transferred for observation he went into cardiac arrest and lost consciousness. He was shocked eight time before coming back to us. He awoke and didn't remember anything and they gave him sleeping meds and oitment for the burns...his temp was hypothermic and blood pressure way down. Right now, it just waiting and the docs really can't make any prognosis. I live away from all of my family and waiting just for an update is excruciating. Needless to say there has been no sleep tonight and I got the first flight out at noon.

Sorry for the long story, but you folks are a home away from home and it's just the wife and I here.

I’m not really sure if putting “all” in recipients actually pings all, but for all you wonderful people - here’s my latest update and a wish for the continuance of prayers.

I arrive home in time to see and talk to my Dad though he was in and out of micro naps. After leaving the hospital last night, he was stable more alert. but his stomach was very distended.. He then complained of worsening pain. I recieved a call later from the surgeon who asked for my approval for emergency surgery (suspecting bowel death) and said ther was a very high percentage of death with and without the surgery due to the weakened heart. I okd it and and he made it through but abdomen had to remain open. They removed a foot of necrotic small intestine. It turns out the cause of everything was a clot originating in the lower bowel. It travelled up to the heart wreaking havoc the whole way. It them hit the lower ventricle and collapsed it causing arrest and a heart attack. Earlier today they said that the bladder helping to pump the heart wasn’t enough for the heart kidneys and liver and wanted to try to implant a very new innovative device into the heart that to do the job, set a strong and stable pace, and bypass the ventricle to allow for it to rest. The same risks were present. He made it through that but they are walking the tightrope between hqving the blood thin in his heart, but having clotting factors in the abdomen. They have place frozen plasma on the needed sites and are attempting to contol the blod loss (transfusion). They are throwing every treatment known to science. This morning or afternoon, the wiil suture the intestine and close the abdomen. Brain is still unscathed, but the next 24-48 are critical they are exhausting every known treatment.

I know you all prob. didn’t need this much detail and prob wondering why im putting this on the net, but I needwd to just get it off my chest and am just asking for prayers from everyone. I’ve maybe slept 3-4 hours since Mon. morning. I’m trying to be strong but it’s so hard.

Your continued prayers are much appreciated!!!

“I’m not really sure if putting “all” in recipients actually pings all”

Putting in “all” I think is supposed to ping everyone, but it didn’t work for some reason. I was checking the thread manually to look for updates. I didn’t get a ping so no one else did, either.

Ping the people above by name and let everyone know of your Dad’s urgent need for prayer.

“I know you all prob. didn’t need this much detail and prob wondering why im putting this on the net, but I needwd to just get it off my chest and am just asking for prayers from everyone.”

Please don’t apologize for giving details! If people don’t have details they won’t know how to pray, or how serious it is.

Do you have an update? We are waiting for your ping.

Just an update - I’m on my phone so I hope this reaches all ((ty PB).

Yesterday, I saw my Dad. He was heavily sedated but was responsive (somewhat) to touch and hearing, so God granted me the gift of talking to him. He moved his mouth, eyes, and squeezed my hand. I have no words to express my happiness. With that said we are just on a roller coaster of very high and very low and he is back to heavy sedation now..

He had surgery earlier this morning and they sutured his intestine back together. They didn’t notice any more tissue death and all the organs had a decent pink hue ( as good as you can hope). They did the surgery in the room when the vitals were just right (didnt wqnt to move him to an OR). They decided to leave the abdomen open still so there isn’t too much constriction. The night before and all day today he has had atrial fibulation. They attempted twice to cardio vert which is very small shocks to try to get sinus rhythm back. It didn’t take so they are giving anti-arythmatic medications more time to work. There is one med they tried earlier, but it was just too powerful and tanked his stats, so that will be a last resort in using again. They also hookeup a direct dialysis to assist the kidneys. The device in his heart is an LVAD and it is carrying the load as best as possible. Also, they got his bleeding under control, which is a huge hurdle. Each organ has direct intervention to keeping going with a litany of electronic delivery stations. He has a cardio, gastro, and renal team working in concert. They explqained about a poosible transplant in the far future, but we really need that sinus rhythm and his gi tract to start working very badly, since an ostomy or colostomy would preclude him from being a candidate not to mention the immediate need for the body now. Also, its still too early to know how much damage to the heart there really is. If they can get the gi working working, they would remove the heart and insert an lvad device to serve all functions while being at the hospital and home while waiting....That just very far down the road and what I’m holding onto.

They basically are chasing the problems. They correct one prob or stat, but that correction sarts a prob somewhere else. He is still very very critical, but is fighting so hard. I just am emotionally taxed having to hear surgeons keep saying the high likelihood of critical failur for each procedure and prepping to then be so joyous when were told he mede it through....

Anyway, I m going to try to grab a couple hours of sleep

Please continue your prayer and I thank you all so very much.

Here’s a current update and thank God there is an update.

Last Wed.,, the teams decided that the LVAD and meds were just sustaining life, but not helping at all. So, they got our permission for a risky (experimental) surgery to remove the LVAD and install a BIVAD (LVAD and RVAD) on Thurs. They had concerns that he would be able to make it to the OR...but he did. They shut down the floor and, also, had Dr.s from Temple and other out of town physicians come in to observe, since it is a teaching hospital and this was historic in medicine. After 7 hrs, he made it through and immediately showed signs of the procedure working (multiple meds were able to be removed afterwards). They left and chest open (and abdomen was already open). We were surprised that on Sat. when they closed the chest and they are now trying to close the abdomen when everything looks good (maybe today or tomorrow - the intestines still look pink and are healing). He is draining well and they are tweaking the respirator, dialysis, and meds. The teams said we are beyond the minute-minute, hour-hour, and now are at the day to day. He’s tried to wake up a few times, but they are keeping him as sedated as possible.

We are extremely thankful and happy, but tempered as well. And, yes, prayers are most definitely working!!!

Thank you all!!!

Nos prières à Dieu augmentent pour vous, votre père, et votre famille.
(Our Prayers to God increase for you, your father, and your family.)

Notre Père qui es aux cieux,
Que ton Nom soit sanctifié, que ton règne vienne,
Que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel.
Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain de ce jour.
Pardonne-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous ont offensés.
Et ne nous soumets pas à la tentation, mais délivre-nous du mal.
Car c’est à Toi qu’appartiennent le règne, la puissance et la gloire,
pour les siècles des siècles. Amen

Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâces,
le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes,
et Jésus le fruit de vos entrailles est béni.
Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pauvres pécheurs,
maintenant, et à l'heure de notre mort. Ainsi-soit-il.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

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