# My Dads in the ICU \[RIP Dad\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 31, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347 "2012-03-31T02:58:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/21 "2012-04-01T14:01:05Z")
I hope they can find a way to help him. I’ll be keeping your family in my thoughts. Please remember to take care of yourself too. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/22 "2012-04-01T14:21:28Z")
Thanks everyone. Hes still in icu, critical but stable. Hoping to find out from the surgeon tomorrow if bypass is even possible. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/23 "2012-04-01T14:43:54Z")
Thanks for the update. Good thoughts headed your way. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/24 "2012-04-01T14:45:50Z")
Isn’t it funny how we don’t know you or your father, yet when this thread is updated, especially when yours is the most recent post, we run here, hoping for good news? I’m very glad to hear he is stable. Please try to get some sleep tonight, ok? We’ll keep checking back, waiting for updates and good news. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/25 "2012-04-01T16:38:19Z")
Good luck to your dad - I hope it all works out and he heals as quickly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/26 "2012-04-01T19:12:37Z")
Got some sleep but not much. Dad had a rough night, temp went to 103 bu is coming down, partial lung collapse and he’s got a chest tube, still has to be on the ventilator. They’re trying to get him stable enough to risk a bypass but it’s still really dangerous either way. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/27 "2012-04-01T22:42:00Z")
Just know your dad, you and the whole family are in my thoughts and prayers **Antinor01**. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/28 "2012-04-01T23:57:36Z")
Sending healing vibes your way! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/29 "2012-04-02T00:12:25Z")
**Antinor01** , I’m glad they’re keeping you “in the loop” and it sounds from what you write, you’re being strong and we’re supporting you both all the way, both **Dondra** and myself as well as your entire Doper family. We’ll be watching for updates and wish both of you the best. Bill and Dondra Craig (The “Quasi’s”) ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/30 "2012-04-02T06:31:06Z")
I’m sitting up with him tonight. It’s the only way we convinced mom to go sleep for a while. She’s barely left his bedside since he came in. Numbers look good right now. 85 heart rate, 96 oxygen on the ventilator at 50, 22 resp rate. Got him knocked out on propofol plus 5 other IVs. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/31 "2012-04-02T07:15:25Z")
How are you coping? Is your sweetie there with you? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/32 "2012-04-02T07:19:39Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > How are you coping? Is your sweetie there with you? I’m doing ok, just a couple short crying spells. Got some sleep last night and will try later today again. He couldn’t come with, it was about a grand just for me plus the time off work. It really weird seeing him like this. All my life he’s been this big, strong man who fixed everything. Seeing him this helpless is something I’m not used to. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/33 "2012-04-02T10:25:29Z")
I know where you’re coming from. When I saw my dad laying in the hospital bed, he looked so pale and short somehow. Seeing the big guy, the _ **DAD** _, like that was such a shock I almost fainted. Seriously, my knees started the quiver and my stomach started going in circles like you see in cartoons. So I lied and told him “Dad, I gotta go to the bathroom”, and bolted from the room. I’m glad to hear his vitals sound better. Get some sleep whenever you can. As for your mom, can they bring in a recliner or a cot for her? Some places let you do that, or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/34 "2012-04-02T12:57:33Z")
With it being icu, they don’t allow overnight sleeping in the room. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/35 "2012-04-02T13:06:45Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > So, I’m flying to Ohio tonight and am hoping he lives at least until I get there. I don’t know when I’m coming home since I don’t know if I’m going to help out at home until he’s through this or if it will be for a funeral. I was in this exact position about a month ago. Except Florida instead of Ohio, and stroke instead of heart attack. Be prepared for a lot of boring days. And may he see amazing progress! ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/36 "2012-04-02T13:58:50Z")
For as much as people complain about the medical systems in the United States, one thing most people don’t bitch about is the _ability of American medicine to save people!_ No doubt your dad is in the best of hands (and really the difference between a ‘good’ cardiac hospital and a ‘great’ cardiac hospital is not much) and he has a good a chance of making it through as anyone can. I’m thinking of you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/37 "2012-04-02T14:39:08Z")
Thanks again all. The support is really appreciated. No surgery today, not stable enough yet. Hoping he improves enough for tomorrow. From what I understand, we have the best cardiac surgeon in the state ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/38 "2012-04-02T14:50:03Z")
Yeah, one thing American medicine excels at is acute crises like this. If your dad’s got a chance, they will pull him through. I don’t know if this does any good, but I’m in a place where I feel like I have to offer some sort of constructive advice to anyone having a bad time (I really am trying to curb it). Your dad’s greatest threat right now (after, obviously, his heart) is infection. As a family member, while you can’t be in the ICU all the time, you can be absolutely maniacal that the staff follows _all_ procedures regarding infection. They need to be sanitizing every time the enter his space. Any procedure done on him should include full draping and iodine sanitizing of whatever skin they break. Be an asshole. It’ll help keep your dad alive. If you have time on your hands, you might read Atul Gawande’s _Checklist Manifest_ as well as his _Better_. They’re both eye opening and provocative suggestions for improving medical care. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/39 "2012-04-02T15:20:25Z")
My dad had a double bypass a couple of years ago and he’s doing great, still kicking. I hope your dad does well too. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/40 "2012-04-02T16:08:02Z")
They’re tentatively scheduling surgery tomorrow. The surgeon is giving a 70% chance that he’ll survive surgery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347.md?page=3)