Out of ICU

Friday night, late, I got some great news. My dad does not have pancreatic cancer. While they did remove a tumor and it was in the pancreas, it turned out to be ampullary cancer. It’s a rare form of cancer and can seem like pancreatic cancer. And while it still is cancer, this has a better prognosis.

Then, late yesterday afternoon my dad was finally moved to a regular room. When I got to the hospital yesterday, ICU was on lockdown some type of activity – either gun or drugs, I can’t say for certain.

Apparently, doctors feel that he’s making good enough progress to justify the move. We are now in a semi-private room, well, private now since his roomie yesterday was discharged.

He seems better in some aspects. He is able to move in limited fashion.  He seems pretty coherent and talked quite well yesterday. Sometimes  it’s hard to understand when he only has 8 teeth left.

However, his digestive systems leaves something to be desired. He has moved to a “more solid” Whipple diet but it’s still pretty bland. Last night his tray from ICU never made it to his other room. By the time it could get corrected all he could get was a stuffed cabbage roll (ick). He wanted a cheeseburger so I went to the local Burger King.

Well, that came up this morning. Then his lunch came up while Mom and I were sitting in the room. Think The Exorcist. Mom and I had to scurry with a basin and paper towels to clean up.

I look at him and wonder how it all happened. How this strong man that was once 215 lbs is now a frail 153 lbs. How his legs look like sticks. He looks so tired, like he finally surrendered to being in the hospital.

Plus, the bickering between both of them is draining. They both are good at pushing buttons. I need a whistle and a penalty flag.

Trying to stay calm is so hard. I miss my kids, I miss Husband. I miss a larger to computer to type on, versus this dinky netbook which has an hour of battery life, max. 🙂