Bumps in the road

The end of this post is that Dad's fine. He was downright jovial when I talked to him this afternoon. One of his observations was, "You know, I find I'm just not interested in watching the morning news anymore. That's okay. I was kind of getting obsessed with it." Coming from a Today Show freak, that's quite a statement. But it speaks to how Dad is processing all this -- adapting and accepting. I'm sure he's not always feeling this way, but he's making a real effort to stay positive.

The last week tested his efforts. About four days ago Dad felt pain in his leg. Linda and Heather took him back to Cleveland Clinic where they found he has blood clots in his legs and lungs (as if he didn't have enough going on in his body!). Long story short, they did a procedure to insert some kind of filter to stop the clots before they get to dangerous places, and he was sent home. Then yesterday he was having stomach cramps. After another 12-hour visit to Cleveland Clinic, they found nothing wrong. The guy keeps bouncing back. (Three cheers for Heather and Linda who have loyally been by his side during these small setbacks and long drives to Cleveland.)

After the first visit, the docs sent Dad home with oxygen due to the clots. This probably irritated him more than anything else. "I feel like an old person!" Dad's always felt and acted (at least) 20 years younger than his chronological age. Many people can attest to this, such as those greeted by an adult trick-or-treater during Halloween, those witness to his outrageous dancing at weddings and those being pinched or patted on the buns by Bill. Seeing him on oxygen would be like seeing a toddler in a business suit. Doesn't seem appropriate.

This whole illness doesn't seem appropriate for someone as healthy and active as Dad. I wish it were just a mistake and we'd all wake up tomorrow with notes taped to our door that read, "Sorry for the confusion. Bill had a walnut in his head, not a tumor. Please resume your normal lives."