# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/41 "2012-04-02T16:36:55Z")
My grandmother had a massive heart attack at 81, with major blockages, and at her age, the doctors said it was unlikely she would survive the triple bypass she needed. The next evening, she had an episode of flash pulmonary edema, and the hospital summoned the family to say goodbye. They estimated that she had less than 30 minutes to live. Somehow, that stretched out to an hour, then 2, then she made it through the night, and the doctors were just stunned. They decided that any old lady that tough deserved a chance at the bypass - though they warned us not to get our hopes up, that her condition carried about a 50/50 survival rate, and that she would most likely not fully recover. A cardiac surgeon from another hospital came in, apparently she was so high risk that the local guys didn’t want to mess with her (or else didn’t want her death to mess up their stats) but they went ahead with it. She made a decent recovery (though she never really got back to 100%), and lived another 3 years before a stroke got her. Anyway, don’t pay attention to the percentages. Find something to do, read a book, knit a scarf, something to keep your hands and your brain occupied until it’s over and THEN worry about the outcome. Stay as positive as you can. I’ll be thinking about you (and him) today. (_hugs_) ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/42 "2012-04-02T17:08:32Z")
I’m wishing the best for your dad. Please take care of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/43 "2012-04-02T20:20:12Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > They’re tentatively scheduling surgery tomorrow. The surgeon is giving a 70% chance that he’ll survive surgery. _hugs_ FWIW, those are probably pessimistic odds. Most doctors would rather paint a grave picture and have everything turn out great than paint a sunny picture and have everything fall apart. Go eat something normal for dinner, ok? You’re probably not gonna want toleave the hospital much tomorrow AND you’ll probably be too nervous to eat much anyway. ---
**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, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/44 "2012-04-02T20:47:24Z")
Thanks. My parents church friends have been bringing food, so we’re all having good home cooked meals. ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/45 "2012-04-02T23:22:43Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Thanks. My parents church friends have been bringing food, so we’re all having good home cooked meals. I don’t know how the hospital is set up, but in the big place my family mostly goes to there are two places to eat. One is the snack shop. The other is in the basement and is the cafeteria that most hospital employees eat at. It is not advertised, the prices are reasonable, and there is a much wider selection of food than the snack shop upstairs. It also keeps odd hours, with open time in the middle of the night, for late shift workers. If you really want to eat and don’t want to leave the hospital, you might check and see if there’s a place like that where your dad is. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/46 "2012-04-03T02:23:59Z")
Numbers were good all day. Fever is down, blood sugar is down, blood pressure is in an acceptable range and all the other. Still on the ventilator and propofol. If things stay good all night, surgery is a go at 9am eastern. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/47 "2012-04-03T02:50:16Z")
I’m in Central, I’ll try to remember to say a prayer for him at 8:00. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/48 "2012-04-03T03:08:32Z")
Glad to hear things have stabilized somewhat. I’ll add my good thoughts with the others. Hang in there. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/49 "2012-04-03T03:41:17Z")
Got my clock set, and my thoughts "right’. Although we can’t be there in person, **D** and will be thinking of you and waiting to hear good news. I’m sure you realize, that being the number one message board in the _world_, you have a powerful bunch of well-wishers for you and your Dad. Many of us have depended on each other for many years for a supporting thought, virtual hug or squeeze on the shoulder and a phone call or two. We’re all here for you **Antinor01**! Bill and Dondra ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/50 "2012-04-03T04:17:32Z")
I hope everything goes well. I will be thinking of you. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/51 "2012-04-03T12:43:58Z")
We’re off to surgery. Starting at 9, supposed to take 90 minutes to 2 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/52 "2012-04-03T12:49:19Z")
You are in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/53 "2012-04-03T13:44:19Z")
We;re here, **Antinor01**! Bill ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/54 "2012-04-03T15:50:36Z")
Last update is that he’s moving to recovery in 15 minutes and we’ll meet with the surgeon in an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/55 "2012-04-03T16:10:01Z")
Wonderful news! Hope things continue to go smoothly. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/56 "2012-04-03T16:19:11Z")
Thinking good thoughts for all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/57 "2012-04-03T16:47:11Z")
A bit of a delay. His blood pressure dropped way down so they’re going back into surgery to see what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/58 "2012-04-03T18:39:29Z")
His heart isn’t contracting on its so he’s been on the heart/lung. They’re trying a ventricular implant to mechanically beat it. So he’s having a third surgery now. It’s not looking good, but it’s not hopeless yet. Thank you all for you support, it has really meant a lot to me. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/59 "2012-04-03T18:57:42Z")
You and your family have been on my mind all day. I’m just so sorry things are not working the way they should. I wish the best for your dad. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dads-in-the-icu-rip-dad/617347/60 "2012-04-03T23:05:11Z")
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