July 31

Today was altogether a better day. Dad is moving around a little more and was seen by physical therapy. He got up and sat in a different chair, he wasn't hunched over as much as he has been lately. They are still having him use the commode for the restroom, which he does not like at all. He feels that he is able to walk, but once he gets up, his legs get pretty weak.

He is very confused whenever he wakes up or starts to space out. If you keep him in the zone he is able to focus and know whats going on. Overall he is pretty confused and doesn't always know where he is or how he got here or why he's here. He sometimes tells doctors different reasons as to why he is in the hospital.

He got a bath today and was excited to shave and brush his teeth. He's much more active in his upper body, so we are hoping for lots of physical therapy to get him walking again.

Multiple doctors have seen him today and there isn't much of a change in his diagnosis. He still needs to get his infections pushed out of his system. None of the doctors are planning for him to be released until these are completely cleared of his body. They have done more tests and we have requested for an MRI of the brain. This will hopefully be done over the weekend.

He had lots of visitors yesterday including Gail, Michael, Liz, Kathy, Richard and myself. This morning all he could talk about was how happy he was that so many people came to visit him. He is in room 430 at st. jude and loves to have visitors. He also appreciates all the phone calls, he has his cell and also can be reached at his room at 714 446-5650 room 430 bed 1.

He was moved to a new room as we requested and has slept much much better. Last night we had a room mate in his 50's who was discharged today. He was then replaced by a new room mate who is around his age and speaks Portuguese. He is a very nice man and has been in the hospital since Sunday. We are grateful for good roommates who lets dad get some good sleep!

Thanks for all your continued support, please don't hesitate to call or come and check on him. He loves the love and our family appreciates the support!

july 29 4:30pm

Dad has a UTI and Muscle infection. This can be the cause for his confusion and lack of strength. Since he already has bad kidneys, there isn't much to help the infection, thus the infection is then amplified because of the kidneys. He is getting treated with antibiotics for both and will also continue on saline. This will not only hydrate him and flush the infections. He is on a cathader so he will not have to get up to pee that much. He will be admitted for the night, most likely to stay a few days here. Let's hope this is the cause of all the problems we have been having and will get him back onto his feet!

~jenny

July 29 2:30pm

This morning we decided that it would be best to bring dad into the hospital to get down to the bottom of what is going on. We can't get him into the car to get to the doctors, so the only way we are going to find out is to go through the ER. The ambulance picked up dad this morning. Only after he got his breakfast and wiped down. He wanted to make sure he ate before we got there because he knew we wouldn't get him any food.

We are now still in the emergency room waiting for results. They are running multiple tests and xrays. Hopefully these results will come back with something wrong with them. We can then find out what the deal is with dad.

Also, this morning before we left, the hospital bed was delievered to the house and put together. This will make it easier for dad and more convenient for everyone to help him in and out of bed and to be part of the family. Life Alert also came and installed their program today. Theresa is at the house and will be waiting to interview the actual nurse that will be working with dad. We will update as we go.

Thanks for your concerns!!

July 28

Last night was a very difficult night. Daddy and I (jenny) made it up about 4 stairs with great energy, then all of a sudden he couldn't make it up any more stairs. We sat and struggled until, miraculously, Theresa and Bryan stopped by for a visit. Bryan helped me get dad up to the middle of the stairs, it was too much work for the two of us. Our neighbors and Bryan's family are both on vacation, so they were not able to help us. Theresa went down the street to see if Bryan's uncle was home, he was not, but there was a man that was able to help! Bryan, Dave (the stranger) and I were able to carry dad up the second set of stairs. He then helped us a little with his walker get him into bed. We were sooo thankful this guy was able to help!

Theresa and I got him changed and into bed for the night with his medication. He slept very well through the night and wasn't up till about 9:45am! He has lost a lot of control of his bladder and wet through the foam mattress he has above his mattress. This morning he was very alert and excited for breakfast. In the afternoon it seemed he had a little more energy since he didn't have to move around the house.

Since we had such a hard time getting him up the stairs, we decided that we can't have him going up and down even on a chair lift. We have decided and have had it recommended that we get a hospital bed in the house for him. He will be able to get in and out of bed easier and it will also be easier to sit up to eat and watch tv and such. We are going to be getting this tomorrow and dad can be downstairs with the gang and his Bobby.

Today, Theresa and Kathy interviewed several agencies I set up for them to help care for Dad. They made their decision pretty quick and we have a second interview starting tomorrow. I am hoping that a new positive face in the house will help us out with daddy. He really needs some motivating phone calls and visits. His ego is really hurt and he is really upset that he doesn't know what is going on. He is mentally aware of his body not reacting and it's frustrating him a lot. He wants to be able to do everything on his own.

~Jenny

july 27

We have started Dad on Depends at night time. He said it is helping him sleep through the night because he doesn't have to get up to use the restroom. It's really difficult for him to get back into the mental state to get out of bed in the middle of the night and to make it to the bathroom.

This morning he was in a hurry to answer his cell phone and tripped again. He is feeling fine and is a bit sore. The nurse came and checked him out along with the physical therapist and said he should be okay.

We also had out first meeting with insurance in regards to getting dad some health care. Theresa and Kathy asked the lady all sorts of questions and got some guidance on where to go next. We have set up several meetings for tomorrow to interview 4 different agencies. Hopefully we will be comfortable with one of these to pursuit for dad as a caregiver and get them started yesterday.

Dad is pooped from Physical Therapy and the insurance coming out here. Tomorrow is going to be another long day for him with the different caregiver agencies coming. Hopefully it'll settle fast and we can get him comfortable with somebody!

July 24

Dad came home! He was discharged in the afternoon and was very excited to get home. We have moved some furniture and things around the house to help dad out a little more!

He has not yet received his test results from his lungs as they take a few days, so we got discharged because there was no point in staying in and waiting.

Monday we will be seen by a nurse to evaluate dad to get a caregiver.

July 23

Dad is doing much better!! He had them go into his lungs today and they removed almost 2 quarts of fluid! he said it was a gray color. He is still a little sore, but is feeling much much better. His ribs are bruised, but he is doing great! He looks awesome and it'll be a matter of time until he gets home. Thanks for all the wishes! He can't wait to get home and see his bobby!

Dr. Wali will discharge him as soon as we get the test results and find the reason of the fluid.

Hospital Visit July 19

Dad fell last friday July 17th, after an amazing day =( He was feeling awesome all day, he went to costco, ran some errands, then sat down to chill out for the night. When he was ready for bed, he go out of his chair, a little to fast, and fell down. He fell and hit the table on his left side, in the area between your ribs and hip. He went up to bed and got himself into the shower and into bed fine. The next day he said he was very sore, but there were no sharp pains. We felt around and he thinks it was just bruising. I (jenny) also just thought it was bruising.

That day he needed quiet a bit of help getting around the house because he was sore from hitting the table. We had a hard day, but got through it. Sunday morning around 2am Theresa and I were to leave for San Jose. We decided to stay with Dad until Kathy was able to come over and help out. We left with our good byes and were on the road about 9am.

About 11am Kathy said Dad was stuck on the stairs and wanted to go to the hospital. She got the ambulance and they were on the way to St. Jude. They ran tests and did x-rays on him. He has a bruised rib. He also has some fluid in his lungs still from the last visit. They are going to run some more tests and figure out a plan for his lungs. Hopefully in a few days he will be back to dad again!

Dr. Wali most likely will keep dad for a few days in the hospital. There is a chance that he may be sent him home because its just bruising. But, generally Dr. Wali likes to keep dad a few days for observation. His lungs are the biggest concern right now.

UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS:

Debbie from Genworth is coming to evaluate dad for homehealth or a caregiver in the home. Kathy and Dad are going to be home for this appointment.

Dad's Blog

Hello everyone!! I thought a great way to post dad's information on his appointments and health would be to start a blog on him. Everyone can check his health and his children will be updating this.

Dad came home today! It was a long day waiting to get discharged, but alas we were discharged around 6:15pm.

The outcome of this visit was that Dad's potassium levels were too high. He is now on a low potassium diet and I have printed him a list of things he can and cannot eat. We will be getting his potassium levels checked weekly for a few months, then down to bi-weekly, through blood labs. Also Dr. Wali has stated that his odd behavior and body behavior may be because of the potassium build up over time.

His CatScan, Bone Scan, Ultra Sounds and X-rays all came back normal.

He is now walking up and down the stairs at home and feeling much better.

We have no more appointments this month, but follow up appointments need to be made. We have also decided on getting a new Oncologist to follow his prostate cancer. Dr. Park was reccomended by Dr. Alavi and Dr. Wali. He will be seeing Dr. Park soon.