Monday, April 09, 2007

update on Dad

Dad had a seizure late Saturday (or was it early Sunday). We had left but not before he had apparently aspirated some food or drink (probably food) into his lungs. He was having trouble breathing and his heart rate skyrocketed from his normal 60 (although it had been unstable from 80 to 130 lately) to 180. They helped him breathe and got his heart rate down. But after we left he had the seizure. He is conscious and aware of things. But he is weak (he does have chronic congestive heart failure) and will need the continual support of a feeding tube to stay alive, and basically won't be able to do anything. And he experiences nearly continual pain, having a headache nearly nonstop the past ten years.

Pray for Mother as she thinks through with the physician what she wants to be done. She has already let him go to the Lord, in her heart, and by what she has told the physician they should do.

We don't know how much longer Dad will be with us. My sister Cheryl from Toledo has been a great help to Mom and Dad. And my other sister, Maxine and her family are traveling from Texas.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers, love and support in Jesus.

14 comments:

DLW said...

My grandfather had serious congestive heart failure.

My deepest condolences.

I hope and pray you will be able to provide him the care he(and your mother) will need for the coming days...

dlw
ps, this is part of why I think we need a system like the Basic Income Guarantee so that it'll be easier for people to take time off from work to care for an ailing or dying relative.

dlw

Ted M. Gossard said...

David, Thanks so much for your kind and good thoughts. And for your prayers.

I think your idea is a great one, too, by the way!

Llama Momma said...

Thank you for the update. Life and death decisions are never easy to make -- I'm praying for a spirit of unity and peace in your family, healing for your dad, and an extra measure of comfort for your mom during this difficult time.

Life is not easy, is it?

Looking around at church this morning, I saw so many who are facing significant struggles. Then I realized that the ones I marked as "not suffering" were people I didn't know well. They may or may not be facing difficulties.

I thank God that we serve a Savior who is acquinted with the struggles of this life.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Thanks so much Llama Momma. We definitely appreciate that prayer! It is very hard. And I know Christian differ on this issue. And also every case has to be looked at on its own. To see this in its entirety would be helpful for most Christians in our case.

DLW said...

will pray...

http://sodsbrood.com/antimani/2007/04/07/its-time-to-pray-for-president-bush/#comment-18905

consider letting others know about my idea of calling on Bush to call for a nation-wide week of fasting and mourning over Iraq!

dlw

Ted M. Gossard said...

David, Thanks, and will do.

donnjohnson said...

God bless you Ted. I will pray for your family.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Thanks so much, Donn.

Kim said...

Thanks for the update. Continuing to pray, Ted. It's 11:40 am in the west. Peace, Kim

Anonymous said...

Ted -- I will be praying for your father and your family. Llama Momma's comments were so poignant about the difficulty and struggles of this life. I will be praying for faith and peace for you all.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Kim, Thanks so much, brother!

Ted M. Gossard said...

Charity, Thanks so much. You are so right about Llama Momma's statements. They're exactly where we live, that's for sure. And therefore they're quite helpful. Good to hear from you again.

Motu said...

It's never easy to watch your love ones in pain. My continual prayers for you and your family Ted.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Monica, Thanks much.