Prayers Please

[hodge]

My Dad had a liver transplant ten months ago and has been doing pretty well and taking care of himself. Two weeks ago he went back in for some kind of bile bag to be installed and got an infection. He was discharged last week and has been telling us he's on the mend, but yesterday he suddenly took very ill, is getting jaundiced, and is now back in the transplant unit. Any or all prayers, positive thoughts for his healing would be greatly appreciated. I am afraid...

[Nicolette]

Warmest thoughts are with you for you and your Dad Hodge. I hope all goes well for your Dad and the infection clears.

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Hi hodge, I will say some prayers for you and your dad.

Tammy

[empowered]

I have prayed for you and your Dad Hodge.:Hug_emoticon:

[2quilt]

Healing thoughts to you and your dad, Hodge! Keep us informed.

[grace5555]

lots of prayers for you both....

[Grama-Herc]

Oh Hodge

Mother and I will keep you and your dad in our prayers.

[anthony]

All the best for you and your dad hodge...

[nic]

take care..stay strong

[Kathy]

I am sorry to hear of your father's illness Hodge, I believe I recall that the two of you are close. Jim and I will certainly be praying for him and wishing you both all the best.

[morgan]

Sending healing vibes and thoughts to you and your dad Hodge.

Warm wishes, Morgan

[goingonhope]

Hodge, Certainly understand why you'd be afraid. I will pray for both you and your Dad. Please, accept support and take care during all this.

You and your Dad will be in my prayers, hodge.


Hope

[pandora]

I am sorry you are going though this.....you are in my thought and prayers.

[She Cat]

Hodge,


Sending warm wishes and prayers. I hope things turn out well.

[hodge]

Everyone, I am overwhelmed with this outpouring of prayers and good hopes - thank you all so much.

Dad is still in ICU, but more stable. He's still battling infection, kidney function is still not great but has improved, and blood pressure is up to a better level. The doctors don't think he's rejecting the liver, just that this infection is kicking his butt, because...

It turns out he was not taking care of himself after his last procedure about 3 weeks ago. We're all fit to be tied over that. He'd been telling us over the phone that he's fine, on the mend, yet all the while he wasn't eating or drinking nearly enough fluids. Because he wasn't feeling well. When he's stronger he's really going to get it from me. I think a lot of us know how hard it is to eat and drink when you're not feeling well, but one has to!!

In the meantime, we're confident of the care he's getting. I am grateful for that and for the fact that my younger brother and most of my stepmother's family are nurses and are being with him, able to read his chart, and give the rest of us the benefit of their experience and knowledge.

Thank you all again. I can't express how much this means to me, especially since I haven't been here much lately and haven't even gotten to know some of you much, if at all! I will try to remedy that!

[She Cat]

Hodge,

That's good news. Not sure the age of your dad, but as we get older and sickness sets in, it is harder to take care of ourselves. Does he have visiting nurses when he comes home?????? It may be something to look into. That is if you can talk him into it. We also get a tad stubborn as we age too......

[hodge]

My Dad's only 66. He's always been stubborn, though. A true Taurus:) His wife is a nurse's aide and until he gets home he'll stay with her sister, who's a nurse. He's just really stubborn. However, we all remember when he'd say he'd rather die than give up cigarettes and booze. Thank God he gave 'em up!

[Kathy]

Oh that is quite young Hodge, at least from my point of view! :wink: I am glad to hear he is doing better and we will continue to pray for him.

[hodge]

Thank you, Kathy.

[grace5555]

I am glad for the positive turn in his health, Hodge - still sending prayers for all of you...

[2quilt]

Sending healing thoughts your way, Hodge!

[hodge]

Thank you all. Please keep the prayers and healing thoughts coming. My Dad has taken a turn for the worse. They had to put him on a ventilator later yesterday. I guess he's basically on life support as they try out more antibiotics to try to kick the infection while getting his heart rate down and blood pressure up. They just don't know. It could go either way at this point.

I'm leaving tomorrow on the long journey to see him and spend a few days with that side of my family.

I had a horrible hysterical episode earlier today when we started making the actual arrangements. Part of it was the fact that I'm going alone. I was terrified of wigging out along the way, dissociating, anxiety attacks - who knows? But right now we can't afford for both of us to go and we have two animals that need medication 2-3 times a day, can't afford to board them and don't want to put them through that. I was sobbing, moaning "no no no no," shaking, rocking...I don't how long that lasted. I exhausted myself, but could still get no rest. I can't bear the thought of losing my Dad again, but have come to some peace with the idea that if he's not going to get better, I will let him go.

Later this evening I got some confidence from my med nurse telling me I could double the anti-anxiety med as I need to, so I'm all packed, everyone on the other end knows when to pick me up, etc. I'll be fine when I get there...it's just the getting there. I am in better shape tonight than I have been all day, I think. I'm also waiting on a pep talk call from my psych either tonight or tomorrow before I leave.

So please please please keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming...for my Dad, his family, safe trip for me. Thank you again.

[morgan]

Sending more good vibes your way. You are in my thoughts. Have a safe trip and try to use some grounding techniques.

Warm wishes to you and yours, Morgan

[grace5555]

So sorry, Hodge - will be praying for calm, peace, and a safe journey for you and healing for your dad...

[reallydown]

I'm thinking of you Hodge and sending best wishes to your dad for recovery. Have a safe journey.

[sunnydaze]

HODGE,
I pray your dad makes it and hope by now he is on the healing path.
sunnydaze

[hodge]

Thank you again everyone for the prayers and good thoughts. It turned out that I didn't have to make the trip - he's coming around. My stepmom suggested I wait and come out there when he's better! I just heard they're taking the breathing tube out today. Thank God and thank you again everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Sorry I haven't been able to be around here...this rollercoaster has been taking a real toll on me.

To top it off, I am struggling to fill out a long grueling form for my disability application which has to be turned in as soon as possible. It's pretty painful, but I'm doing little bits and pieces as I can, and the worker is understanding about my situation.

Again, I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your thoughts. I hope I can be around here participating more as soon as I can.

[Nicolette]

Oh, that is really good news about your Dad Hodge :smile:. I am so happy for you that your Dad is improving and I wish you didn't have to go on the rollercoaster ride you speak of.

Is there anyone who could assist you in filling out your disability application?

Please take good care of yourself and just do what you can, we are all thinking of you.

[She Cat]

Hodge,

Great news about your dad...Take care of yourself in all of this.....

[hodge]

Thanks guys - please keep the prayers coming.

My Dad has been off the ventilator about 12 days now, but he still needs breathing treatments. It's been really heartbreaking for me to talk to him and hear him sounding so breathless and vulnerable. At least the ventilator-induced psychosis is lifting. That was really freaky and disturbing to hear him talking that way. My Dad has been my rock. Everyone seems optimistic about his healing. I keep praying and thought it would help to request more prayers and positive thoughts from you all once again.

He's more oriented and lucid today to the point where he expressed concern about me. But I just said I'm doing okay.

In reality, I'm trying to figure out whether or, really, when, to go into this partial hospitalization program that my med nurse and psychologist are recommending. It would be five days a week for 3-5 weeks. My husband's first reaction was, "but you have the freelance projects to do...we need money, etc.." Well, I told him that's like asking me to ski with two broken legs, especially right now when my Dad's condition is tearing me up. Finally, my psych and med nurse said the way for him to help us get a steady income is to help me apply for SSI disability. It appears that a treatment and support team is developing in my life...I am supposed to hear from a social worker next week who will come over and help me fill out that application. The one for the state medical assistance was horribly difficult for me to complete, but I did, with the help of my psych.

I don't know...I try to go on with my days, working on starting a vegetable garden to save money on food next year. I just wish I knew what to do about the partial hospitalization. God, I had a horrible rage against my husband about this the other day. The med nurse put me on Lamictal last week and he said that should help. I never used to have problems with anger management. I can almost physically feel that there are things wrong with my brain.

Blah...I am also feeling guilty for coming here with my woes and asking for support because it's been so long since I've been able to do that for anyone else, much less come here and catch up on how everyone else is doing and get to know some new people, some of whom have so kindly supported me.

This is pretty rambling - if any editor wants to split this up into another thread, please feel free. I am having trouble just writing this much out.

[She Cat]

Hodge,

Your first responsibility is to yourself.....You need to put you first, and do what you need to do to be safe, and secure. In order to maintain a healthy marriage, you need to take care of your issues...

I hope that you can work this out, and do what you need to do for you...



Hugs.....

[empowered]

Praying for you Hodge :Hug_emoticon:

Please take care of yourself, and do the right thing for you...

Sindy :smile:

[TLight]

Praying for you Hodge. I know you'll make it through this.

Be gentle with yourself.

[morgan]

You are in my thoughts Hodge. Glad your dad is doing better.

[hodge]

Thank you all again. I really appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts.

Dad had a scope-down-the-throat inspection procedure yesterday. I haven't talked to him yet because I'm sure his throat is sore, and he has such a hard time talking and keeping his breath as it is. But the report is that he came through okay.

Meanwhile I've actually had a good couple of days now. Maybe it's the Lamictal kicking in? Maybe it's my husband seeming to be more understanding of my condition. Ironically, I have actually been feeling good enough to do some browsing through professional journals I haven't been about to touch in about two years and focus a little here and there on my freelance project.

[TLight]

Way to go Hodge,
You made it through. It's so wonderful you could be there for your dad. Glad things are looking up.

An amazing woman. What do you think of the Lamictal so far? It's been suggested to me. I understand it's really for Bi-Polar, right?

[hodge]

Thanks, TLight. Yes, my med nurse said it was often prescribed for people with bipolar disorder. He said I'm not bipolar, but that I do have mood swings (and, I guess, yeah, who doesn't when suddenly triggered? :)). He said it has been recommended as well for depression, mood stabilization, and irritability. He said I probably won't feel much of the effect until week 3. I've just ended week 1, but maybe I'm feeling it a bit already; I'm very sensitive to meds. The things to watch out for, though, with Lamictal are rashes and hives. Even minor ones should be checked with the doctor asap because they could turn serious. I haven't noticed any yet, and, of course, not everyone gets them.

[sunnydaze]

I sent you a PM but the message sent did not apply to my thread to you earlier. Thanks for the message and ignore my last comment to you. How is your dad doing?
sunnydaze

[Cindy]

Hodge, Wow - what a grueling series of challenges. You've weathered them and are working on what YOU need. Kudos to you. Many of us are still learning the process. Here is a prayer I carry in my Prayer Box on a chain around my neck - EVERY DAY. Make sure you read the end it has a new twist. I got this in the hospital.

Grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference. Grant me PATIENCE with the changes that take time,
an APPRECIATION of all that I have, TOLERANCE of those with different struggles and the STRENGTH to get up and try again, one day at a time.

[hodge]

Thanks Sunnydaze, my Dad is doing better, steadily improving (knock wood). He's actually calling me and other people again now, which is a sign of his increasing strength and lucidity. My Dad looooves to talk on the phone. He's expected to be in the hospital for awhile yet, but that's good, because we don't want him out of there until the infection is gone.

Cindy, wow, I just commented on your thread about how much I like this prayer. Thank you for sharing it here, too, and for your encouragement. And especially after just getting out of the hospital yourself. Good work.