OK, so I have put this post off for far too long. No excuses, let's just get right into it.
First and foremost, pops is reading this blog now. He has access to a computer, and is even starting the long process of responding to so many of you. I got him set up with a gmail account this weekend, so if you want to wish him well personally, his new address is cjpetro1@gmail.com.
My next posting will be he and I typing something up together.
So we've just about finished the deck project that we started last year for him. Some generosity came in the form of hard working bodies recently, and they slapped together the last of this ramp. All that is left is some aesthetics, but it is fully functional and working wonderfully!! That evening we had a little dinner with our guests, and while the boys entertained my Dad watching the Blazers in the playoffs, my brother and I sat with my Mom and her sisters. There was talk of the past, the future, and the present of course. Something noted that stood out for me was the incredible love that is within this family. We have our differences as most families do, but in this day and age, it is so rare that two people share the same love through thick and thin as my Mom and Dad do.
The irony here is that through the past decade, it was not uncommon for my mother to slip in little guilt trips for my brothers and I, and how we have NOT produced any grandchildren yet. Had any of produced said family, it would have made our current situation extremely difficult. Luckily for her (and him), we are all taking our sweet time. :) Any single ladies reading this blog? Brad is brown hair, blue eyes, medium build....hahaha. Perhaps this whole ordeal was part of my Dad's ultimate sacrifice in getting us ready for fatherhood? I am smiling as I am writing this by the way.
ANYWAY, speaking of pops....all is well. His left side is slowly getting stronger and stronger. He impressed us all this weekend with the additional mobility in his left arm. He is taking more and more steps, with less and less aid. Limbs and muscles, I feel I can help out with, work out, and strengthn...but his speech, I just feel so helpless. It's super frustrating for him as well, so the computer access is a great way to communicate for now.
Interesting thing happened this weekend. I was at a benefit dinner for auto-immune research, and the cohost of the evening was Dick Foley, a former member of the "Brothers Four" (One of my Dad's favorite bands), and one of the many visitors to see my Dad when he was in ICU. I snuck over when he was off stage for a brief thank you, and he had assumed that my Dad had passed, based on the diagnosis at the time of his visit. He was elated to hear that pops is still fighting the fight, and wished him his best. The event raised over a million dollars for the research. I can't tell you how much I would love to put an event like THAT together. Not just for Parkinson's, but for hundreds of causes. Such an exciting and emotional evening....to see people come together for a cause. Very moving.
More to come this week!! Look for a post from the ol man Wed or Thurs!!
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
1 comment:
I cannot wait to hear a personal message from my brother. It has been a long time. We are so glad that he continues to improve. It surely becomes tiresome and frustrating at times. Sometimes when I am eating, I think about you where for most of us swallowing is such an automatic thing, what it must be like to have to actually think about how to do that task as well as the other things that used to come automatically.
We know you are keeping up the fight and the old body seems to be healing although at a much slower pace than you would wish.
As I told Chris by email, I am afraid I have to break a promise to you. The last time we were up, I thought we could come up again in May. I cannot find an open spot in the calendar this month. I hope we can find some time in June to make a trip.
Perhaps if it works out, we will go pick up Ollie in Montesano and bring her to see you as well the next time we come.
Until later, Love Bud & Olga
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