TL;DR version: I am taking a break from staff duty for personal reasons, and intend on returning when the situation improves.
Those of you who have been following the "How are you today?" thread already know what has been going on for the past 9 or 10 days. On July 2nd, my father was admitted to the hospital with advanced congestive heart failure further complicated by kidney failure. Two days later on the 4th of July, he nearly died, but was saved. Since that time, he had been slowly improving, though his heart and kidney function has been supported via medication.
Over the next week, he continued to improve, his kidney function was improving, which was allowing him to eliminate the edema that was straining his failing heart. Yesterday he got up on his feet and sat in a regular chair for a couple of hours.
Two hours ago, I received word that his kidney function has dropped to almost nothing - and there is blood in what he is passing. I am no physician, but that does not sound good. I do know that his survival depends on being able to reduce the edema, and so they must get his kidneys functioning better.
I am prepared to type match and donate one of my kidneys, however, with his heart in the condition it is in, it is doubtful that he is a candidate for transplant, and I would expect that he would likely not survive the procedure in any case.
Most of the medications that they are giving him are intravenous - which of course is adding to the fluid retained in his body as he is unable to process and pass it as fast as it is being given to him. They are taking him off most of the IV meds and starting oral meds, which seems to me a desperation attempt to buy time.
The prognosis is poor, unfortunately. I've resolved to come to grips with the probability that he will not survive, though I remain hopeful.
I'm emotionally compromised and fragile, and I am not certain that I am able to perform my duties with the objectivity that every single member here deserves. For that reason, I am excusing myself from participating in any staff actions for the immediate future. I will likely be hanging around here, as AF is a distraction that helps me keep my mind off the overwhelming nature of my situation.
I intend to return to staff duty when the situation is sufficiently resolved such that I am able to trust my judgment. I do not have any idea when that may be. If I receive any requests for help via PM, I will forward them to the rest of the staff for resolution.
I appreciate all of the support and well-wishing that I have received and am grateful to count a great many of you as friends.
Best regards,
Cthulhu
Those of you who have been following the "How are you today?" thread already know what has been going on for the past 9 or 10 days. On July 2nd, my father was admitted to the hospital with advanced congestive heart failure further complicated by kidney failure. Two days later on the 4th of July, he nearly died, but was saved. Since that time, he had been slowly improving, though his heart and kidney function has been supported via medication.
Over the next week, he continued to improve, his kidney function was improving, which was allowing him to eliminate the edema that was straining his failing heart. Yesterday he got up on his feet and sat in a regular chair for a couple of hours.
Two hours ago, I received word that his kidney function has dropped to almost nothing - and there is blood in what he is passing. I am no physician, but that does not sound good. I do know that his survival depends on being able to reduce the edema, and so they must get his kidneys functioning better.
I am prepared to type match and donate one of my kidneys, however, with his heart in the condition it is in, it is doubtful that he is a candidate for transplant, and I would expect that he would likely not survive the procedure in any case.
Most of the medications that they are giving him are intravenous - which of course is adding to the fluid retained in his body as he is unable to process and pass it as fast as it is being given to him. They are taking him off most of the IV meds and starting oral meds, which seems to me a desperation attempt to buy time.
The prognosis is poor, unfortunately. I've resolved to come to grips with the probability that he will not survive, though I remain hopeful.
I'm emotionally compromised and fragile, and I am not certain that I am able to perform my duties with the objectivity that every single member here deserves. For that reason, I am excusing myself from participating in any staff actions for the immediate future. I will likely be hanging around here, as AF is a distraction that helps me keep my mind off the overwhelming nature of my situation.
I intend to return to staff duty when the situation is sufficiently resolved such that I am able to trust my judgment. I do not have any idea when that may be. If I receive any requests for help via PM, I will forward them to the rest of the staff for resolution.
I appreciate all of the support and well-wishing that I have received and am grateful to count a great many of you as friends.
Best regards,
Cthulhu
