Where's the Kg When Ya Need Him?

[soccermama]

So, this isn't funny at ALL..... but today could have used a little of the Kitchen Guy humor, because mine was not that great.

Dad fell off his bike this morning and at the hospital he said he had a pain in his neck. I quickly replied that it wasn't ME this time.....

Unfortunately, that pain was quite serious, and we are awaiting his surgery on Thursday to repair the fracture in the 2nd vertebrae. Yes, a broken neck.... which brings more bad jokes from Dad, himself.... when a nurse asked him how fast he was going on that bike, he replied "Break Neck Speeds"..... yes, SUBS runs in the family (Sudden Uncontrollable Bursts of Sarcasm)

The neurosurgeon also tried his hand at some humor, but he did even worse. Although, he did get a couple giggles and groans with the jokes and puns.... And yes, I really was wishing that Kitchen Guy was there to put HIS spin on it..........

So, I'm off to bed..... it's been a truly exhausting day, and tomorrow will be insane, as well, with some issues to deal with at my other, other, other job........... (yes, I've got that many jobs...... lol)

 

[Jennie4PC]

Celest I am really sorry to hear about your dad I sure hope he has a fast recovery.

 

[soccermama]

Thanks, Jennie. He's a tough ol' Marine, a real fighter. He won't let something like a broken neck stop him from doing anything!!! Dr. says that once they put the pin in his neck, he should be able to go home the next day.....

 

[Jennie4PC]

Wow thats amazing you would think that he would be in the hospital longer.

 

[Stampaholic1961]

Oh my! I sure hope things go smoothly for him. Why do they have to wait until Thursday to do surgery? I would think it would have to happen right away. I sure wouldn't want to wait for 2 days to have surgery!

 

[soccermama]

Yeah, I thought it would be much longer than that....... but luckily, Dad's fracture did NOT do any damage to the spinal cord (as far as they've been able to tell), and he has full feeling in his legs, arms, etc.... of course, that means he's in need of major pain meds, but at least he can let us know he needs it, ya know?

 

[soccermama]

Oh my! I sure hope things go smoothly for him. Why do they have to wait until Thursday to do surgery? I would think it would have to happen right away. I sure wouldn't want to wait for 2 days to have surgery!

The neurosurgeon has several other cases that also need urgent care. This also gives a chance to make sure there is no internal bleeding anywhere else, or complications from the fracture. He put in for Thursday, knowing that he does have a few days to get him in. It's sure frustrating to have to wait, though!!!!!

 

[Chef Endora]

How fortunate that his injury didn't involve his spinal cord.
I'll keep your Dad in my prayers.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Celeste, I'm sorry I wasn't there, but tell your dad, from me, that before he tries something like this again, he's going to need a peddler's permit.

 

[KellyTheChef]

Hope and pray that all goes well with your Dad's surgery...

Keep us updated!

 

[chefann]

Celeste,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. He must be doing OK, if he can joke around with the staff, even if they're bad jokes. (I actually like the one about "breakneck speed.")

 

[chefkristin]

Praying that everything goes ok. Time to sell that bike?
My brother broke his collar bone RTVing through the woods. Yes he was drinking and didn't realize until he was in the shower how serious the pain was.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Celeste,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. He must be doing OK, if he can joke around with the staff, even if they're bad jokes. (I actually like the one about "breakneck speed.")

Our kinda guy, wouldn't you say?

I bet his surgeon is a cut-up, too.

 

[chefann]

Our kinda guy, wouldn't you say?

I bet his surgeon is a cut-up, too.

He's really got the patients in stitches.

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Another thread hijacked!Poor Celeste - all this family turmoil and it seams she's here getting needled.

 

[chefann]

She asked for it! Why else would you name a thread, "Where's KG When Ya Need HIm?"

That's like shining the Bat-signal into the night sky and not expecting Batman to show up.

 

[janetupnorth]

She asked for it! Why else would you name a thread, "Where's KG When Ya Need HIm?"

That's like shining the Bat-signal into the night sky and not expecting Batman to show up.

I thought KG was against tights 'n' stuff like that.

 

[missydivine]

Celeste I hope your dad's surgery goes well. Your family is in our prayers.

 

[soccermama]

Thanks! I checked here first this morning, because I knew I'd get some smiles.

Dad has no intention of getting rid of the bike. He just bought it and is still determined to reach his 50 mile ride goal! This just delays his training a bit. Stubborn ol' Marine..... lol

And yes, I certainly did ask for the jokes...... my family is just like that..... SUBS affects us all, and it is certainly quite contagious, with all my friends beginning to catch it, too...... lol

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I'll update you when there's more to say.

 

[baychef]

Celeste, thankful your Dad's injuries are not more serious and hope he does well with his surgery. What a scare.
So even though I have never heard of SUBS...we have SUBS in our family too. Last year my Dad who was 73 at the time had double knee replacements. It was the end of July and it was hot. He did fine for a few hours after he woke up but with in 12 hours he went into a reaction from the anesthsia that sent him into hallucinations. During this time he spiked fevers and they had to cut back on the morphine and give him tylenol to reduce the fever. So here is this poor man in so much pain and hallucinating. There was one of us children at each side of him because he was trying to leave and get away from the pain. He took out his intravenous 5 times.

In the midst of all of this, he would also whip off his sheets because of the heat and in his attempt to leave...exposing himself to the world. One time a nurse came in to care for him and said, Neil, you have to keep your covers on because there are other woman walking in here..you don't want them to see you naked do you? And ever so slightly...he knodded his head yes! He is a very modest man but has a wonderful sense of humor. My mother and I snickered as did the nurse. It was a welcomed bit of laughter in a difficult day. Even under extreme pain he can still make us laugh.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Many SUBS!!!

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Drug induced (medical) hallucinations are much more fun for the visiting relatives than they are for the poor slob having them.Not that I'd know about that or anything. I understand the nurses (mostly) found me pretty amusing.

 

[janetupnorth]

...we have SUBS in our family too.

Us too...in September, 2005 my dad was diagnosed with amyloidosis - a rare blood disorder that is terminal.

In October, as Mom, Dad, Brother and I are sitting at the specialist at Froedtert having him trying to lecture Dad on the seriousness of his disease and the fatality is trying to explain the disease...he says, "It only hits one in a million people." To which I promptly reply, "Well Dad, at least you're being told you're one in a million." The doctor took 1 1/2 hours with us because he thought my dad wasn't taking things serious enough. He didn't realize, laughter was our way of coping and my dad CHOSE to have a positive outlook throughout the illness and death and fight it the best he could even though he knew it would kill him.

Laughter is good! Sounds like your Dad, Celeste, is doing well despite his injury. I hope it heals well and he continues to do o.k.!

 

[soccermama]

Laughter is the best medicine and it would serve doctors very well to study up on that!!!

I'm at my other job now.... and it's rainy and dreary on this side of the mountains. BLECH! I'd rather be sitting at the hospital, at least it's sunny on that side.....

 

[baychef]

Us too...in September, 2005 my dad was diagnosed with amyloidosis - a rare blood disorder that is terminal.

In October, as Mom, Dad, Brother and I are sitting at the specialist at Froedtert having him trying to lecture Dad on the seriousness of his disease and the fatality is trying to explain the disease...he says, "It only hits one in a million people." To which I promptly reply, "Well Dad, at least you're being told you're one in a million." The doctor took 1 1/2 hours with us because he thought my dad wasn't taking things serious enough. He didn't realize, laughter was our way of coping and my dad CHOSE to have a positive outlook throughout the illness and death and fight it the best he could even though he knew it would kill him.

Laughter is good! Sounds like your Dad, Celeste, is doing well despite his injury. I hope it heals well and he continues to do o.k.!

Janet...I can't believe this...we have a friend who is 46 that has this. It is attacking his heart and liver. They went to shut his system down to give chemo and while I was at conference, he had a heart transplant. He is coming home Friday. He will then have to go back and start the process again. He was told initially that his chances of recovery were 80/20...but now with the heart transplant, I believe 10 years is the life expectancy of a heart transplant patient. Not sure.

 

[janetupnorth]

Janet...I can't believe this...we have a friend who is 46 that has this. It is attacking his heart and liver. They went to shut his system down to give chemo and while I was at conference, he had a heart transplant. He is coming home Friday. He will then have to go back and start the process again. He was told initially that his chances of recovery were 80/20...but now with the heart transplant, I believe 10 years is the life expectancy of a heart transplant patient. Not sure.

Ann - if you need more information on the disease, let me know - my brother and I got a lot of information on it.

My Dad's had already progressed QUITE a bit. It was already around his heart, lungs, liver and in his skin. They tried chemo and were trying to pull stem cells to give back to him but he reacted to that treatment and they had to stop that.

My Dad took all the treatment he could to fight as long as he could, but his battle only lasted from diagnosis in September to death the end of January. I do know of some people who have lived 2-3 years with it.

PM me or e-mail me and I'd be glad to share what I can. Also, if he is married and has a wife I can talk to my mom and see if they would like to talk to each other. The spouses go through a lot! The person with the disease has changing likes and dislikes with food, the ability to taste, hot and cold temperatures and temperment while on chemo. There are unique personality things that happen with the disease (temperment-wise) that don't happen with cancer patients. My mom did not have someone telling her this (except her children) - no doctor knew to explain it and she also didn't want to burden us. A lady in her town called her 2 days after my dad died after seeing the obituary. Her husband died 10 years earlier of the disease and they got to share their stories and it put my mom's mind at ease with all the "funny" things dad started doing. The spouse needs to know it isn't directed at them but the disease talking.

 

[janetupnorth]

One additional thing - as of when my dad died, no one knew the cause of the disease or if it is hereditary. Scary to get something when you have no clue what causes it, when it is fast and fatal, and you don't know if children or grandchildren will someday get it.

 

[janetupnorth]

Ann - I just went to amyloidosis.org and it looks like they've learned A TON in the last 2 years!!!!

They now know some causes and there is a hereditary strain...interesting. I will now have to catch up on reading!

 

[baychef]

Janet,
Thanks!! I am at work right now so I will PM you either later today or within the week. He is not married. He has a son that lives near Washington, DC and he is here in NY state. He has tried to keep close to his son but he is at that "cool" age. His Dad has him for a week or two in the summer, but the Mom REALLY rules the roost. Our friend is a very non confrontational man and rides with the tide. (or the tsunami!!) His sisters and parents are very involved and are there for him. He is my boyfriend's good childhood friend. Just a really nice guy.
Thanks again!

 

[baychef]

Drug induced (medical) hallucinations are much more fun for the visiting relatives than they are for the poor slob having them.

Not that I'd know about that or anything. I understand the nurses (mostly) found me pretty amusing.

It was horrible watching him go through this. When they cut back on the pain medicine to take care of the fever he kept reaching out to "get out" of where he was (because the pain was so intense). He had my brother's thick bicep in a death squeeze and then had him in a head lock at one point. (this is a man who was not the disciplinarian in the family and when he spoke...we listened, however he never spanked us) This went on for hours before they finally put him in intensive care. He had a mild heart attack as a result of the stress his body was going through.

Once he was in intensive care they got a handle on it all. He asked my Mom and I to leave and it wasn't a problem. He had a self administering morphine drip, the remote in one hand, watching sports and eating...we were interfering!!! It was a great to see him doing well enough to be able to dismiss us! He still had some incidences of hallucinations. He said to a nurse one time...."Do you know who I am?" She asked him who he was and he told her that he was a well known professional golfer and he has earned quite a bit of money over the years." When they told us we all snickered. He was a hard working dairy farmer that loved to golf on Sunday afternoons. My Mom said...well, he's spent a lot of money on golfing, but never won anything!

We felt so guilty because he put the operation off for so long and still was having some last minute thoughts. He was months...not years away from being wheelchair bound, however. Today, he is doing fantastic and wears shorts with his bright white -but straight- legs!