Thoughts and Prayers needed....

[rgphib]

My Dad had open-heart surgery for a valve replacement on Monday. He had this valve replaced back in 1994 at 39 years old. He had been having some shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. He went in to his cardiologist on Wednesday of last week for his normal checkup. He didn't like what he saw.....sent him in for tests...and sent him to Boston. He had a severe infection around his valve and his valve was leaking almost 33%.

The surgery on Monday did not go very well. He was in surgery for almost 12 hours. They couldn't put another mechanical valve in because his infection was so bad so they had to use a cadivar. When they tried to take him off the heart/lung machine his lungs filled with fluid so they had to put him back on. Then his right side of his heart stopped working so they had to put him on a machine called an RVAD to do the work for that side (his left side is working fine). The doctors think he had some type of reaction to something and it stunned his right side. They are hoping it will start working again....but they are not sure. The machine he has right now is only temporary for 30 days. They are going to try to turn down the RVAD on Monday to see if his heart responds or not.

They had to put him on dialysis yesterday since his kidneys are not working as well as they need them too. They want to take some stress off of his body and they need to get the toxins from all the medicine and all the fluids out of his body. They hope it is only temporary. Today his liver function started getting back to normal though, so that was good.

His chest is still open. He is sedated (they did turn it down though, so he is acknowledging us with flickering of his eyes). He has a machine working his right side of his heart. He is on a respirator (but the doctor said his breathing is much better). He is a fighter. He has been stable since he got to the ICU after surgery. But it is still hour to hour. The infection was so bad.

If anyone is religous, will you please pray for my dad. He is only 53.

I love my dad so much. I don't want to loose him. He waited so long for Jack to come....and I don't want Jack to loose him. Jack loves him so much and my dad loves him more than anything.

Thanks.

[amelia]

(((Big hugs))) I'll keep your dad, you, and your family in my thoughts. I hope all goes well and he only gets better from here on out.

[spotty4]

I am so sorry to hear about your dad, Robyn!! All my best wishes to you and your family.

[madlibs]

Robyn, I'm so, so sorry you're going through this. The end of your note just made me start tearing up. That's exactly the way I feel about my dad. My dad also when through open-heart surgery just a couple years ago. I know how stressful everything about it can be. When it happened to my Dad, it really changed me for good. I can't bear the thought of losing my dad, and I can truly empathize with what you're going through. I'll be thinking of you and saying lots of prayers for both your dad and you. I know there's probably nothing I can do, but please let me know if you think of anything at all. LOTS of hugs.

[BAC]

the end made me tear up too... I will keep your dad and your family in my thoughts. Best wishes!

[mrs767er]

You've got my hopes and prayers for your dad and all who love him. I will most likely have to have a mitral valve replacement (I'm 54 now) and I would want to know I had love and support like he does. God bless.

[lucky81698]

Robyn,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well.

Jan

[Brenda]

(((HUGS))) You , your dad, and your family will be in my prayers.

[Chi829]

Im praying for your dad now.
I sent you a PM.

[elfygp]

you, your dad, and your loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers. i went through many months of almost losing my dad, i wish i could say it gets easier. i know it sounds ridiculous, but try and relax a bit for your own health. and stay strong!