Need serious pixie dust

[DisneyDog]

Oh, man, things are bad with my dad. He's been sick for quite a while, in and out of hospitals. He's had several operations and it's always something new. Two years ago he had his colon removed due to crohn's disease, and he was doing great for a while. Then, last year he started getting herniated bowel problems and has needed surgeries for that. (I'm not a medical professional, so I may be explaining this incorrectly). He has had 3 of those surgeries, the most recent one being in August. Then, he needed to have 4 tumors removed from his kidney, completely unrelated to the other surgeries. That was just a few weeks ago. Then, two weeks ago he started having the symptoms of the bowel hernia again and was rushed to the hospital (and he's a doctor, and he's been at the hospital where he works). They were going to ambulance him to a hospital in Philly but he ended up needing emergency surgery on a hematoma next to his kidney, which is what was causing the bulk of his pain. A few days later, they took him to the hospital in Philly for the bowel surgery, but he developed a fever and they sent him home. But, two days later he checked himself back into the hospital because of the fever. He's been there since Friday. I just learned that they sent him back to the hospital that did his kidney surgery for further treatment to the hematoma, as that must be what's causing his fever.

Meanwhile, dad's wife has been dealing with all of this AND the recent deaths of both of her parents who lived in Florida. She was taking care of my dad and flying down to Florida almost every weekend to take care of her folks. And my brother's marriage of less than two years has fallen apart because his new wife was just using him to try and adopt her niece (I don't know why he didn't see that one. Everyone else did -- for those of you who remember, that was the wedding I didn't want to go to because I found out that my dad's inlaws didn't know about me because they disapproved of divorce and didn't know my dad had been married before. He had been lying to them about me for over 30 years...and this was the sister-in-law who never sent out thank you notes for wedding/shower gifts.). So, now I find out that in order to deal with all of this, my step-mother has been drinking. Apparently a lot. Enough for her to check into rehab tonight in the middle of all of this. OMG.

I've been kind of on the outside looking in throughout all of this. I only get bits and pieces of information, being the step-daughter. And, having a small child with a husband who works a lot, I haven't been able to be involved much. But, it's still my dad. I just don't even know what to do or say at this point. It's like a soap opera. Wow.

[SBETigg]

Wow, that sounds excruciating and so hard on him, and on the whole family. And then on top of that, his wife's issues. I do remember your family backstory. I hope things get better fast for everyone involved, and especially that your dad recovers his health and feels better. Prayers and pixie dust headed your way.

[DisneyDog]

Thank you, Sherri. I am really worried about him. I have felt so out of the loop, and now I know why. My dad didn't want to tell me what was going on with his wife. I feel bad for my step-mother. I mean, how much can one person really handle? When is it "too much" and you crack?

[BluewaterBrad]

God Bless.

[faline]

I'm sorry you are going through all of this. It's very hard.

[Jeri]

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear all that is going on. Please know that you and all of your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Hope your Dad gets to feeling better soon, and your poor step-mom gets the help she needs.

[PirateLover]

Wow. What a terrible time for your family. Plenty of prayers and on the way, along with a big

[DisneyDog]

Well, it gets worse. I just found out that he has MRSA (apparently like a staph infection that you can get by being in a hospital, and it can be fatal). He needs to have surgery for that. I don't think that I can go to visit him because it's highly contagious, but there is basically no one to keep me informed and I really have no one to talk to. I'm really a wreck now...

[faline]

Sorry to hear that!

[handmaidenofprincesses]

I'm so sorry you're going through all of this! Lots and lots of love, prayers and pixie dust

[Tinkerbella]

Sending tons of pixie dust, prayers, and love your way I'm so sorry you have to deal with all of this right now. We're always here for you!

[Beach Club Babe]

I am so sorry you have to deal with all of that! Sending a whole lot of Pixie Dust and prayers!

[DisneyDog]

Well, I spoke to my step-mother, who is now home. My poor dad. He's definitely not having surgery to remove the hematoma anytime soon because it is a solid mass. They can't do anything with it until it starts to break up. They would have to drain the hematoma, and can't if it's solid. So, they are just trying to keep him "comfortable." That means, of course, keeping him completely drugged up. He can't function and he's still in pain. This is a guy who didn't take anything stronger than Tylenol after his previous surgeries. I've been told not to visit because he can't stay awake longer than a few minutes. I do call him every day, but our conversations are basically me telling him that I just want to say hi and I love him and for him to go back to sleep because he isn't making any sense.

[meldan98]

I am so sorry you are going through this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.