It’s ironic that I chose to write about my Dad in my last post, not knowing what was coming. Sometimes irony sucks. Sometimes it makes me think maybe God is involved. At any rate, let me fill you in on the latest.

A few nights ago, my Dad was having GI issues and urinary issues, which Parkinson’s patients often do. He was so blocked up that an ER visit was in order. They got him cleared up, and an antibiotic for a UTI, and off to his house we went.

As he was getting out of the car, he fell straight backwards. He landed on his back and flank on the concrete floor of the garage. Fast forward to another ER visit, and we discovered that he has 5 broken ribs, a great big hematoma on his lower right flank, and a punctured lung. The doctors inserted a chest tube, which means he cannot get out of bed. He urinates in either a urinal or Depends. He poops in a bedpan. It’s sad and frustrating and he’s so tired.

Today was day 5 at the hospital. Tomorrow physical therapy is going to try to get him to agree to move to a chair to get him out of bed and to sit up. The hope is that it will relieve some of the pressure in his back and butt. Today they tried but he refused. He is not himself sometimes, and was very agitated and difficult with the PT staff. But it wasn’t him. And I don’t blame him one bit. UTI’s can cause confusion and disorientation. So can Parkinson’s. Or maybe he’s just frustrated from having people tell him what to do every day. Poor Dad is just going through the wringer. He has been asleep for a few hours now and my hope is that he is able to get a good night’s rest tonight.

Mom is beside herself. She is essentially his caregiver. She takes care of him night and day. That alone is hard on her. But this. Poor Mom. She is so scared and upset and stressed out. My parents have been married for 50+ years and are still in love. This has been so difficult for her to handle.

If you’re a praying person, pray. If sending good vibes is your jam, please do that. We need all we can get.

Thanks for reading. I don’t have the energy to add pictures or anything to this post.

Happy Thanksgiving you all!