It was Monday morning the 28th of July that my father went in for a procedure that he felt would remarkably improve the rest of his living years. He told me not to worry, and that by noon on Monday, the first phase of the procedure would be complete….but I did worry. Then, around 10:30 that morning, my mother called me to tell me all lights were green! The doctors claimed it couldn’t have gone any smoother. I looked to the sky with tears in my eyes, and whispered the words “Thank you”. I was ecstatic, and quickly sent word that the worst is over. Phase two was a walk in the park, and would hardly be anything to worry about. I was overjoyed, and full of anticipation to finish my work and rush to the hospital. Then, at around 2:00pm, my anticipation and excitement was shattered with confusion, fear, and anger as my brother called me…
“Hey man, there has been a complication…you better get up here right away”
I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital where I found my mom, two of her sisters, and my brothers in the surgery waiting area. The look on my mom floored me, and I could see that this is no small complication. Apparently, a blood clot had formed in the left side of his brain, about the size of a baseball. They claim that when inserting one of the electrodes into his brain, they grazed a blood vessel and a slow leak had started. They rushed him back into surgery where they were able to remove 89% of this clot. The rest, they claimed, would be absorbed by the body and be of no threat.
He was placed in ICU where all we could do was wait. He had more tubes and wires coming in and out of him than I would ever want to see again. Initially, his oxygen was being fed to him, as was his food, through various tubes. Day by day, the doctors removed a little bit at a time, until all he was left with was his feeding tube surgically installed directly into his stomach. A CT Scan revealed that some of the blood had leaked into the third and fourth ventricles surrounding his brain stem. This temporarily prohibited him from opening his eyes and/or speaking.
His family was constantly by his side, waiting for a sign. The damage to the left side of his brain had temporarily paralyzed the left side of his body. Though unable to open his eyes or speak, he was able to acknowledge us by squeezing his right hand. Day by day, he began to come out of his coma. We were starting from scratch, and every new triumph, no matter how big or small, were an emotional moment. As he grew stronger, so did our family. His courage to take on such a procedure has brought this family closer than we have been in decades. Everyday sees more and more improvement, yet after a meeting a week after the surgery, the doctors claim that if he has not shown significant signs of improvement in the next three months, we will have to make a decision. (I.e. stop feeding him) They have since moved him out of ICU, into a SNF (Skilled Nurses Facility), where his healing goes into high gear. It is here that he has a speech therapist, a physical therapist, and several other skilled specialists to get him up and running.
My father is strong, and I believe in my heart that he is trying like hell to get back to his wife and family…and I know he can do this in the three months time. But, as if we haven’t had enough bad news, he may not be allowed that time. The conditions of his Medicare plan say that he is only covered for two months at the SNF, AND if he is not making ‘significant improvements’, the SNF has to de-certify him from Medicare. Without Medicare, he would be moved upstairs of this facility to their nursing home, where he would be cared for, but no specialists…and only time will tell. The long term care unit would be out of our own pocket at a cost of around $7000 per month.
I spend my hours with my father talking, showing him hand signals, working on his words…basically starting from scratch. He responds to hand signals and words almost without hesitation. He smiled for me last night, and stuck his tongue out at me when asked to do so. His grip with this right hand is so strong now; I know he is telling me he can do this. My father loves his family so much. He took a risk for the benefit of all of us, and is fighting to come back FOR us. I have never witnessed a love like he and my mom share. He is only 66, and knows he has several more years of loving her to go.
Help John Heal Fundraiser!! (Thank you!!!)
Dad trying to smile (8-17-08)
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, my father John, has Parkinson’s Disease. He has fought and struggled with the symptoms of this for well over a decade. He is a loving father, husband of 45 years, and one of the kindest persons that many have ever known. At 66 years of age, he is now being forced to learn how to live again. He decided to make a choice for himself, his three sons (Brad, Matt, & Chris), but most importantly for the love of his life and best friend, my mom Claudia.
The choice my father made was for a procedure known as DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), which can be read about in our Medical Link. He made this choice for a better life, for a long and healthy retirement. The procedure claims to have a 97% success rate, thus he deemed it worth the risk. Sadly, we fell into the 3%, and his story has been said to be one of the most tragic this procedure has seen to date. I know my Dad, and I believe he can come back from this. He is a man that has always put others before him, and would come back just to kiss his wife, one last time and tell us that he loves us. The doctors claim that he may never walk again, that he may never leave his bed. They say that in three months, we as a family; have to make a “decision”…if he has not improved. Now, due to the stipulations of his Medicare, we may not even get those three months.
I invite you to read his story and watch for updates as we prove the doctors wrong. For all of those who have asked how you can help, I have provided information on how you can donate. Thank you and God bless you all.
~The Petrovich family
P.O. Box 310
Kirkland, WA. 98083
The choice my father made was for a procedure known as DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), which can be read about in our Medical Link. He made this choice for a better life, for a long and healthy retirement. The procedure claims to have a 97% success rate, thus he deemed it worth the risk. Sadly, we fell into the 3%, and his story has been said to be one of the most tragic this procedure has seen to date. I know my Dad, and I believe he can come back from this. He is a man that has always put others before him, and would come back just to kiss his wife, one last time and tell us that he loves us. The doctors claim that he may never walk again, that he may never leave his bed. They say that in three months, we as a family; have to make a “decision”…if he has not improved. Now, due to the stipulations of his Medicare, we may not even get those three months.
I invite you to read his story and watch for updates as we prove the doctors wrong. For all of those who have asked how you can help, I have provided information on how you can donate. Thank you and God bless you all.
~The Petrovich family
P.O. Box 310
Kirkland, WA. 98083
2 comments:
Dear Claudia, Chris and guys,
I never met your dad, except on a Parkinson's realted website called 'PatientsLikeMe.com'. Your dad was heading for DBS and I'd had it in December of 2006 in Dallas. The operation was more successful than I could have dreamed. Your dad asked me a lot of questions telling me that he'd considered it very seriously. Your dad was so right and ripe for the operation; who could have anticipated it would go bad.
It is evident that this is a much loved man and a remarkable one.
Thank you for providing this forum for friends and family to follow his progress.
Tom Clift, Jefferson, Texas
I read about your Dad on Sammi's blog from KISS and decided to read a little bit more. Anyway I work in a SNF and your Dad has 100 days of Medicare available to him per bennefit period and if he uses all 100 days or is de-certified and has paid for Part B Medicare he can recieve therapy under part B whether or not he is on a long term care unit. My suggestion would be to set up a meeting (if one has not been set up) to meet w/the Business Office Manager to help explain that all further.
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