I've been @ the Hospital with my Father

August 19, 2007: Dad photographed at 4am in Cardio/Thorasic Intensive Care

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital 1/13s f/3.2 at 14.0mm iso400

I've been doing overnights looking after my Father in ICU; he underwent a triple play open heart surgery on August 18th (an anyurism repair, an aortic valve replacement PLUS a bypass)

The op lasted over 6 hours, and he's been upgraded to Stable Condition today - the image from last night shows him actually sleeping in his chair with his legs propped up, as he wasn't too comfortable in the bed and was able to communicate that to his nurses - so that's a very good sign.

He was comatose from the anesthesia for the entire first day, and it was still not entirely gone from his system yesterday, but during the night & this morning I'd say it's almost entirely clear from his system, although he came out of the op almost totally deaf and has lost about 80pct. of his hearing, and no one seems to know why. (he's never had an issue with his hearing his whole life)

Another good sign is they said he could have regular food as soon as he wants it, so I spoon fed him some strawberry yogurt for his breakfast yesterday, which he liked.

What a miracle he survived the anesthesia for 6hrs, and the cardiac arrest they induce in order to work on the heart once the chest is open - Dad is 85 years old next month.

Thanks for reading today - I'll leave here in a bit & get back to editing as best I can; it's been very stressful around here lately, but we're dealing with it as best we can.
PJAMES