My dad, faulty heart valve, surgery today.

[Kristel]

My dad is getting a titanium heart valve today, if the doctors determine his heart and body overall will be able to withstand the surgery. This is a huge deal. It's all going so fast, and I am worried, because the surgery is so complicated and so risky.

Please pray for my dad, in Houston. Thank you.

 

[Nebraskan4Texas]

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your father, and your family.

 

[AUinAustin]

nt

 

[Bevoette]

Prayers to you and your family. May God help guide your father to a full and speedy recovery.

 

[Engelke]

prayers for you, your family, and your father's doctors

 

[Anonymous]

my prayers are with you. also my sister's prayers are with you she is in rome and will be visiting the vatican she said she will light a candle for your dad

 

[Kristel]

Thank you all for your prayers.

The surgery happened. They cut out his calcified valve and installed a titanium one, and there were some complications and they called the surgery "severe" even among an already severe surgery, but they did a wonderful job. I feel he is in good hands. I am glad he is so close in Houston to some of the best medicare care in the country, let alone the world.

I think he is going to pull through, but he is still in a precarious state right now. They aren't sewing him back up all the way until tomorrow (Friday), and that's if everything goes well. His kidneys were not coming back on-line after the surgery, and some other issues were going on, but they are getting better. It's very scary to hear about it, and to see him practically lifeless, unconscious, pale, swollen, tubed, like that.

We can feel your prayers though. My fiance' (Will Monk) is helping me stay really positive about it and is keeping the situation not so stressful with his sense of humor. His mom has also helped us with so much. She might even be staying the night at the hospital tonight with my mom. The doctors at the hospital really seem to care about their work, and the other people we have met in the waiting room(s) have mostly been very nice and supportive. It's kind of like instant bonding and friendship in there because we are all going through the same things, some far worse and dire than my dad's case. People are from all over the country, all over the world. I think we were the only group actually even from Texas in there. We were doing these big puzzles together, and crossword puzzles, too, comparing medical and life stories and praying together and trying to keep a good outlook on all of this.

I do feel the prayers are working.
Thank you for them all. He definitely still needs them, and so does my mom. And my sister. And me, too. I am running on almost no sleep. I've only been away from the hospital 2 or 3 times, and only briefly, since it all began. I am going to sleep in my own bed tonight rather than a waiting room reclining chair. Thanks again everyone for your love and support and prayers. It really helps. I promise.

 

[lostman]

Continued prayers.

Keep us posted on his progress.

 

[Momo]

Is there an update on your dad?

 

[Kristel]

More news. He is out of ICU. He has a private room now. He is still sleeping most of the day, and is pretty weak and immobile, but the progress has been amazing. He went from about two dozen tubes (not even kidding) going in and out, to now just an oxygen tube he wears while he sleeps.

He is doing so much better. There was some serious craziness going on, with the kidneys not working and fluid in the lungs and all that, but he has gotten over all that. His sense of humor, although fairly slow, had come back somewhat yesterday. We were talking about his beloved Lakers and he just made some funny comments, I can't remember what they were now.

It's really amazing where medical science and faith and love from friends and family can take you. Thanks for your prayers. I think he will have a long and hard recovery, but he is over the worst of it.

 

[Bevoette]

Good to hear that he's improving......
It's not an easy thing to go through and love and prayers will help him recover ..
His spirit is very important to healing and well being.

continued prayers.

 

[Momo]

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Praise God!

 

[Kristel]

More good news. He is up and walking around regularly. Thanks for your support, everyone.

 

[wooderson72]

Great news, and continued prayers for a full recovery. It is amazing what science, prayer and love can do for a family in a time of need.

 

[Tex Pete]

Prayers for continued recovery and blessing. I have been through a similar situation with my own dad, and I remember how scary that was.