My Pop had a stroke

[avignon]

He's on the mend now I guess, but no where near ready to leave the hospital. He's lost the use of the left side of his body, which I've learned to accept as a blessing in a way because had it been the right side he'd have lost the ability to speak completely. The doctors said that he'll be able to walk with a cane after lots of physical therapy. It's just really difficult to see this tough old mountain man suddenly so fragile. But if I know Pop, he'll get better out of sheer cussedness.
So I'm home for a week or so to settle some things and then I'm going back as soon as possible. All long term arrangements still have to be decided and stuff, if my sisters and I can agree on anything that is.
As far as that other thing that was supposed to finally happen this month that some of you know about, well, that is postponed again.

So what's been happening with you all? What did I miss?

[Pres Zount]

That's very sad to hear. I'm really scared of having a stroke.

How old is he?

[camo]

He's on the mend now I guess, but no where near ready to leave the hospital. He's lost the use of the left side of his body, which I've learned to accept as a blessing in a way because had it been the right side he'd have lost the ability to speak completely. The doctors said that he'll be able to walk with a cane after lots of physical therapy. It's just really difficult to see this tough old mountain man suddenly so fragile. But if I know Pop, he'll get better out of sheer cussedness.
So I'm home for a week or so to settle some things and then I'm going back as soon as possible. All long term arrangements still have to be decided and stuff, if my sisters and I can agree on anything that is.
As far as that other thing that was supposed to finally happen this month that some of you know about, well, that is postponed again.

So what's been happening with you all? What did I miss?

A few months ago my step father woke up and complained to my mum that he had a headache. 2 hours later he woke up on the living room floor after suffering two strokes. He had no clue what was going on. Everyone had gone to work. He then walked 2MILES to the local clinic were they rufused him treatment because they thought he was an alcoholic (slurred speech etc etc).

Not fully realising what was going on he then walked another two miles in town to buy headache tablets at Boots, the woman behind the counter told him that he needed to go to hospital to get checked out.

With no money he then walked a further 7miles to the district hospital, were they told him that he had just had two strokes!

My step dad is a fucking warrior!

For a few months he too was also a shadow of his former self, we all adjusted to how he was. He has since made a full recovery.

Your not alone man

[avignon]

62. I guess that's kinda young for that.

The doctors said that a lot of stuff can lead to a stroke, like blood pressure and stuff like that. My Pop pretty much hunts and fishes for his food, so who knows how much cholesterol is in a venison steak? And they said it could be hereditary, but he was an orphan so there's no way to know about that either.

Anyway, he's doing better than can be expected, swearing at the doctors and flirting with the nurses, so I guess that's a real good sign.

[avignon]

A few months ago my step father woke up and complained to my mum that he had a headache. 2 hours later he woke up on the living room floor after suffering two strokes. He had no clue what was going on. Everyone had gone to work. He then walked 2MILES to the local clinic were they rufused him treatment because they thought he was an alcoholic (slurred speech etc etc).

Not fully realising what was going on he then walked another two miles in town to buy headache tablets at Boots, the woman behind the counter told him that he needed to go to hospital to get checked out.

With no money he then walked a further 7miles to the district hospital, were they told him that he had just had two strokes!

My step dad is a fucking warrior!

For a few months he too was also a shadow of his former self, we all adjusted to how he was. He has since made a full recovery.

Your not alone man
Thank you for that. That really gives me some hope. Pop's friend was with him when he had his stroke and drove him into the nearest town immediately and they say that that gives him the greatest chance for a full recovery.

[Pres Zount]

Stroke victims are getting younger by the generation I think. But that might just be lies. There is a pretty big chance that your pop will recover fully though.

When I have a migrane I lose the use of half my body and speak gibberish. People always think I am drunk or having a stroke.

[ms.peachy]

He then walked 2MILES to the local clinic were they rufused him treatment because they thought he was an alcoholic (slurred speech etc etc).


LAWSUIT!

Glad to hear he is OK now.

[camo]

LAWSUIT!

Glad to hear he is OK now.

[monkey]

:( sorry to hear that. i wish your dad the best <3

[Rancid_Beasties]

My grandpa had a stroke a while back. Hes had so many falls since then we've lost count. However, my grandpa was already quite weak when he had the stroke from a lifetime of excess. Hopefully your pop is tough enough to recover as much as possible.

[enree erzweglle]

I am so sorry to hear about that, but your dad is so lucky to have you, Celeste. What a burst of light you must be for him.

A good friend of mine had a stroke ~15 years ago. Initially, they said that she'd never have the use of the left side of her body. With physiotherapy, she learned how to walk again (she drags her left foot a little and uses a cane). She talks without a problem. She never recovered use of her left arm/hand, but it was a stunning recovery all things considered.

As far as that other thing that was supposed to finally happen this month that some of you know about, well, that is postponed again.Awwww, that's too bad :( but all in good time. This would not have been the best time to do that.

I'm thinking and praying for you all--lots.

[Kid Presentable]

I'm fucking sorry to hear that avignon. I've had experience with this as well; my father suffered a few minor strokes which built up to a major one. The cumulative effect left his left side paralysed, and he was unable to talk.

All my best wishes are with you and your fam. (y)

[Tzar]

sorry to hear, avi
i bloody hope everything works out for the best. (y)

this thread make me ponder where the name "pop" came from?

[abcdefz]

He's on the mend now I guess, but no where near ready to leave the hospital. He's lost the use of the left side of his body, which I've learned to accept as a blessing in a way because had it been the right side he'd have lost the ability to speak completely. The doctors said that he'll be able to walk with a cane after lots of physical therapy. It's just really difficult to see this tough old mountain man suddenly so fragile. But if I know Pop, he'll get better out of sheer cussedness.
So I'm home for a week or so to settle some things and then I'm going back as soon as possible. All long term arrangements still have to be decided and stuff, if my sisters and I can agree on anything that is.
As far as that other thing that was supposed to finally happen this month that some of you know about, well, that is postponed again.






...sorry to read this. Hopefully he'll make a full recovery. It sounds like he's pretty active, so that could help.

[mickill]

Hang in there, Celeste. And I hope your dad's back to business soon.

[instigator7022]

So sorry, Hope he gets better!

[DandyFop]

I'm sorry, that must be a scary position to be in. It's always weird when you realize that your dad is vulnerable :(

My dad is actually in surgery at this moment, for a hernia. I'm sure everything will be fine but it's still kinda freaky.

[jabumbo]

i'm sure he'll make it out allright with you pulling him through (y)


i will have a few bourbon balls in his honour

[marsdaddy]

Since my hospitalization, I'm afraid of all kinds of things -- including strokes. Other than my liver not working, I was healthy as a horse -- not quite the mountain man like your dad. I'm actually almost better than normal now.

I lost so much weight but I've been putting back on muscle and so far, not much fat. This past weekend, I played softball with some friends -- my first real physical activity in 10 weeks. I wasn't even too sore the next day. The only drawback was I had to wear a helmet to bat -- don't want to cause a clot in my brain.

I'm thinking good thoughts about your dad.

[cookiepuss]

My Pop pretty much hunts and fishes for his food, so who knows how much cholesterol is in a venison steak?

Actually not much. venison has very little fat, as deer are muscular and they run alot. It would depend on how he cooks it though. if he uses lots of oil or lard in his cooking then yeah he could have high cholesterol. Oh a whole though the fact that he hunts and fishes for food is probably much healthier than going to the store and buying meat and fish that have been fed hormones or are processed.

I hope he has a quick recovery. best wishes to you and your family in this difficult time.

[TAL]

May everything get better quickly.

[kaiser soze]

I hope your dad has a speedy recovery and that your family stays strong!!!

my dad is showing signs of dementia, he had a catscan and we're waiting for the results

hang in there!

[TurdBerglar]

my grandmother had a slight stroke and no one knew about it includeing her. we just noticed that she walked in circles one day...

[avignon]

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and wishes. I got to speak to him a little on the phone today. He said, "Where the hell you at, kid?" :) It's real difficult being far away from him for the moment. I had to come home to pay some bills and look after things and make sure I still have a job. I feel rotten for leaving him though. I'm going back as soon as possible. It looks like I may move there or we may move him here later on. I'm battling with my sisters who seem to think that the best solution is to dump him in a home, and I refuse to do that. If it comes to it, I'll just dadnap him and take him back to Kentucky. But you know what they say, one pop can take care of three daughters, but three daughters can't take care of one pop.
Some of you mentioned that it has been difficult for you as well to see your fathers sick or hurt. For me it's like the unthinkable has happened. It's like seeing the greatest superhero defeated. It's like all the best parts of yourself, all the strongest stuff you're made of lying there frail and white as the bedsheets. It's terrifying.
My lowest point in all this happened very soon after I made it to the hospital. We were in the waiting room and we saw a Native American doctor pass by. He wasn't Pop's doctor, but he saw us and came over to say hello. We told him about Pop and he said he'd like to go in and meet him. It's silly I know, but I thought that this Indian doctor could go in there and fix my daddy. But of course he didn't, couldn't. Because it's not magic. I mean, I'm a rational adult and I know that my pop isn't a superhero and I know that Indians can't work magic, but I guess the little girl in me still wanted very much to believe it. But I'm better now. I believe that with time and care, Pop will recover and that's enough.

[avignon]

Stroke victims are getting younger by the generation I think. But that might just be lies. There is a pretty big chance that your pop will recover fully though.

When I have a migrane I lose the use of half my body and speak gibberish. People always think I am drunk or having a stroke.
I think you should talk to a doctor. Seriously.

[Documad]

I'm really sorry that you're going through a scary time. I have no experience with strokes, but people who are fighters can channel that into rehab and they seem to do better. That was true of my dad when he got sick.

P.S. my dad's illness brought out the best and the worst in my relationships with by siblings. I try to cut them some slack because we were all scared.

[Medellia]

Awww, Avi. I hope he recovers quickly. It sounds like he will. <33333333333

[BGirl]

Celeste, I'm so sorry to hear about this.

Your dad is so lucky to have you.


{{{ Celeste }}}


(^ hugs)


I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

[Kid Presentable]

I'm battling with my sisters who seem to think that the best solution is to dump him in a home, and I refuse to do that.

*Removes Kid Presentable mask*

Please trust me, you want to keep him out of a home with all of your being. It must be an absolute last resort.

[Lex Diamonds]

My dad had a stroke about 2 years ago, and he's still in hospital.

Some bits of it can be hard, like how he doesn't even know who I am when I go to visit, and he can't really speak properly, but it makes you grateful for your health and makes you appreciate your family more. It's definitely brought me and my brother and sister closer together.

Anyways, hope it works out for you. (y)

[g-mile7]

best wishes, if you ever need to talk then let us know or at least me, your a cool person and have been nice to me pretty much since day one. Hold your head and be strong for him, he will need you during this time.

[cosmo105]

eeps. everyone else has already taken all the good stuff to say, but yeah. that's tough, Celeste. i hope you and your family can get everything settled before too long and without much strife, and that your father makes a speedy recovery. and that the thing doesn't have to be postponed much longer. (y)

[cookiepuss]

My lowest point in all this happened very soon after I made it to the hospital. We were in the waiting room and we saw a Native American doctor pass by. He wasn't Pop's doctor, but he saw us and came over to say hello. We told him about Pop and he said he'd like to go in and meet him. It's silly I know, but I thought that this Indian doctor could go in there and fix my daddy. But of course he didn't, couldn't. Because it's not magic. I mean, I'm a rational adult and I know that my pop isn't a superhero and I know that Indians can't work magic, but I guess the little girl in me still wanted very much to believe it. But I'm better now. I believe that with time and care, Pop will recover and that's enough.

This really touched me. Magic comes in many forms but most of the time it doesn't go "poof! all better." I beleive that your father also receivng alternative native american care along with western medicine could be a great advantage to him psychologically. What magic does happen in this world happens because we beleive it, because of the power of our minds. If your father is a beleiver in the traditional ways he could recover faster by receiving tradtional rites, because he beleives.

I use to work at a magazine for health care centers and I once did a profile on a clinic in WA state that combined western medicine with the tribal traditions. It was a really interesting interview, and I felt very honored to conduct it and be able to educate others about it. The director of the program couldn't stress enough how important to the patients identiy and sense of self that having access to the traditional ways was in thier treatment.

[avignon]

This really touched me. Magic comes in many forms but most of the time it doesn't go "poof! all better." I beleive that your father also receivng alternative native american care along with western medicine could be a great advantage to him psychologically. What magic does happen in this world happens because we beleive it, because of the power of our minds. If your father is a beleiver in the traditional ways he could recover faster by receiving tradtional rites, because he beleives.

I use to work at a magazine for health care centers and I once did a profile on a clinic in WA state that combined western medicine with the tribal traditions. It was a really interesting interview, and I felt very honored to conduct it and be able to educate others about it. The director of the program couldn't stress enough how important to the patients identiy and sense of self that having access to the traditional ways was in thier treatment.
I agree with you on this, but I want to clarify that the Native American doctor I was referring to was a regular ER doctor. My sisters have been shirking the idea of any "interference" from the traditional healers from our tribe. I'm not sure how I feel about it. So much of that kind of knowledge was lost from us and a lot of the people professing to be healers are really hoaxers and show-offs. My Pop used to argue a great deal with our tribal "doctor" or wise man because he always wanted to give Pop advice about raising three daughters himself and Pop was never one to take advice about us girls.

Thank you all for the warm wishes and advice and personal stories. I'm going back to be with Pop next week. I was hired to start a new job right when this happened and I had to come home and work for a bit to make sure that they wouldn't replace me. They are being great about the situation and are letting me come and go as I need to. I really like the job and the company and it's been great so far. I just wish it was nearer to Pop.

And in other news, as the Avignon curse holds tough, my step-grandfather on my mother's side passed away. Pap-pa Jack. And the horrible bad disgusting thing is, the funeral was two days ago and I missed it. I just found out about it today because I had been working so much and no one had the new number and no one seems to have my new cell number even though I thought they did and I didn't pay the bill so my cable/internet/phone service was off until today. So I'm the biggest loser in the world. But hopefully I can arrange to go and see my Granny before I go back to be with Pop. Ugh.

And through all of this bad luck, Walter is the most patient man on the planet and is withstanding the Avignon curse as best as can be expected.

So how are you gays? I mean, guys!

[enree erzweglle]

Oh man ^^^ I am so sorry to hear this. :(

I was thinking of you today, wondering how you're doing.

I so hope that you're hanging in there okay.

I love that Walter is there for you! (y)

hugs to you