Well, my dad had a heart attack.
It's a long story but he is doing amazingly well.
We have no history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke for that matter, in my family. On the contrary, particularly my dad's side of the family - they tend to live into their 100s with no health problems.
So, I think in every way shape and form we have been entirely unprepared for all of this. He is not even 60!
Life tends to be funny that way. I spend so much time worrying about my mom and sister's mortality, as they both have serious health and mental issues. & here is the rock of the family, facing so many unfamiliar (to us) medical problems. That's life!
I know in the heat of the moment my dad said "maybe I should retire." I know he is thinking maybe he won't live to 100 like he always expected. I am trying to talk them into moving closer to us. They could sell their home and buy one for a fraction of the selling price, closer to us. They probably have the means to retire now, if they move.
One thing at a time I guess, but I am putting that bug in their ear.
I am not very worried about my dad today. He is doing really well and trying to bust out of the hospital. The problem with him is getting him to slow down. Maybe this will get him to slow down a bit. (Up until yesterday he has been arguing that he wants to go back to work - though he is clearly not ready). On the flip side, I think now that they have cleaned out his artery, he hasn't felt this good in a long time. We may have to tie him down or something.
His heart couldn't have been more healthy - they checked it thoroughly after his stroke, etc. But he does have buildup in his arteries, etc., not diagnosed until yesterday. They are optimistic his heart is still very healthy since he got to the hospital and was treated so quickly. As active and healthy as he tends to be, he has atrocious eating habits. Funny enough, the stroke has really affected his eating habits for the better (affected some part of the brain relating to taste, etc.). It's good because he needs to really work on that.
Anyway, with all this mess, pleased to report he is doing well.
My Dad, Again
July 11th, 2009 at 06:49 pm
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I just wanted to share with you my family's situation. My grandma is 89 and very frail. She took care of my grandfather who recently passed. She had a heart attack while in the hospital for a different non-serious medical issue. This was five years ago.
I worried that she would pre-decease my grandfather. Her parents lived to be 96 and 99. She is on medication for her heart and sees her cardiologist every four months.
I panicked because she wasn't home two days in a row when I called (not the same time). I called my uncle who lives in the area (about an hour away). He happened to be at a class about ten miles away. He stopped in and she had just gotten home. She had gone out to the lunch and the mall with one of her other neighbor's and then because the weather was so nice in southern California they were sitting outside.
So this may just be a wake up call for him. Happy thoughts for a quick recovery for him!
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