Update on my Dad, G-Dad

Whew, this week has been a whirlwind of a ride for my dad (most of all!!), my mom and our family. On Wednesday, my dad had cardiac ablation in order to correct his rapid heart beat. His surgery began at 3:15 p.m. and was over by 9:30 p.m. His surgeon at The Heart Hospital in Plano felt that he was successful in getting all the arterial fibrillations that cause the rapid heart rate to occur. We should know in 3 months or so if the surgery was a success.

Saturday a.m. update:
Last night, my dad was rushed back to the hospital with a fever of 102.5 and a high heart rate, just what he had surgery for on Wednesday. They could not get his heart rate under control and he had fluid around his heart and lungs and he had developed pneumonia. My dad feels that staying in Sherman at the hospital is the best for him right now. My mom, sisters and I (they were all there with him) were trying our very best to make him understand that he needs to be back at the Heart Hospital that he was just at on Wednesday but it's his decision to go or not once the doctors make the call. It's scary to know that his surgery could possibly have not worked and that his body did not respond as well as expected. My sisters are on their way up there now to talk w/ his doctors and get more answers.

Saturday evening update:
He's making MUCH progress! The doctors (his Echophysiologist (surgeon) & Cardiologist) have his heart rate, blood pressure and temperature under control. He has inflammation of the heart (and for the life of me, the medical term slips my mind as I write this) due to the trauma that was caused by the surgery, a common side effect of the surgery that the doctor FORGOT to mention to my parents, nice huh?! He also has fluid on his lungs (pneumonia), due to the surgery. Both his heart and lungs are being treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications and continue to be watched closely. His doctors told us that if he continues to make the great progress he's made this afternoon, he could possibly be released tomorrow, YAY! His surgeon (who works daily with his cardiologist in Sherman b/c they both practice a few days a week out of the Heart Hospital in Plano) has high hopes that he'll get everything cleared up over the weekend and he'll be home shortly. Since he is stable and in great hands of 3 great cardiologist, he will remain in Sherman. The doctor said this reaction to the surgery and arterial fibrillation that he is having does not mean that the surgery was unsuccessful. His heart has not fully accepted all the changes and once it does, withing the coming weeks, his heart will show him if the surgery was a complete success or if there is still some tweaking to do.

To all my amazing family & friends- THANK YOU!! We appreciate the continued prayers, thoughts, phone calls, emails and texts. With prayer, ALL things are possible!! Thank you LORD for these great people in our lives.

To my daddy:
You may never read this but just in case you do....
Today, we thought we could possibly lose the leader of our household and tonight, he's still here, stronger than ever! We always knew you had a heart of gold and now you've proven it to us all! I love you more than words and actions will ever convey. You are an amazing husband, a fantastic father, a stupendous grandfather and most of all, you are the man I'm honored to call my dad. Keep on fighting through the struggles. We know you will look back on these days soon and be thankful for all the chaos your girls caused in the past 48 hours trying to get you the care we knew you needed and deserved. I love you dad, Stephie