h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

everyone!

s and mufflewhumps all 'round!

Yeah, there is that, Paul, but he was confused when we were up there before he was on the machine...

oooh i've never had a mufflewhump before

Well, got a call this morning, because Daddy Bob's current doctor (not the regular doctor that was supposed to call last week and never did) wanted to know if I wanted them to be aggressive, or just do comfort measures. So I just said that I'd recently learned that Daddy Bob had said that he wanted them to do everything. So Daddy Bob will be going in for surgery... I think for his foot...

After I realized that I forgot to ask about Daddy Bob's current condition I called back, and talked with Gabby (the old friend that called the other morning to tell me that Daddy Bob was off the machine) Daddy Bob's not doing so well.. He's still breathing on his own, but that's really the only positive bit of news. He's sleeping all the time, though he is rouse-able. But he only occasionally answers simple yes-no questions. Really simple ones, like 'Are you cold?' The nurses and doctors sit with him for awhile, and they've asked him if he still wants to go through all this stuff or not, and he doesn't appear to comprehend On the physical side, while he *is* breathing, he's gurgling as he does so, so they're having to suction him, but they can't very often or very thoroughly, as his throat's so irritated by now that they get blood when they suction. One lung is pretty much useless--if he moves, he coughs, and it gets reinfected very easly. His foot is... very bad. His toe (not certain if by 3rd toe Gabby meant his middle toe or his ring-finger-toe) is completely black and necrotic (that's why I'm guessing the surgery the doctor said he'd schedule is for the foot--another amputation) and he has another wound on his torso that also isn't healing...

But he said 'no matter what,' so we've got to keep going...

I think I would be questioning why the current wasn't already aware that Daddy Bob had already made his desires known and instead called you about what should be done.

I'd be wondering if there was any chance that the person who told you he wanted everything possible done actually knew what she was talking about.

I know how awful it is to only know what they tell you, and what they choose to tell you on any given day can depend a lot on exactly who you're talking to, but it appears that the chain of communication is breaking down somewhere.

Sounds like the chain broke down a while ago.

oh dear

Hi Amy & Tom

From this side of the Atlantic what's coming across is your difficulty in communicating a long way away. I'm glad there's someone at the Hospital whom you know and trust to give clear info.

It's a very difficult time for you all.

I appreciated from your earlier messages before you replied to me that Daddy Bob was still with us albeit hanging by a thread. That situation's confusing and hard even when communication is clear. Speaking to umpteen differing folk adds Chinese whispers to uncertainty and hurts even more.

Is it possible to arrange a specific time to call daily and a specific contact person eg your friend? That's asking a lot and may not be possible as differing folk and duty rotas interfere with the best laid intentions.

for you all.

A special from Faith can be very theraputic just now. She may sense that you're unhappy of course and get a little crabby. Don't worry if this happens. It's normal.

The doctor that actually talked to me today had been on vacation, and had left before all this really started. Plus he may have wanted to know how the family felt...

Hang in there, Amy.

What I wonder is, even if your father does come through this, will he have to go into a convalescent home or nursing home?

He was in one already, so yes.

Amy.

Right now it really is out of your hands since he made his wishes known then and isn't able to say anything about it now. Just love him while he's here.

You guys are in my thoughts.

Well, Daddy Bob is now on comfort measures only. Made that decision today--about the only thing working right now is his , and he's declining by the hour. He can't move, can't talk, can't even do the 'blink once for yes and twice for no' thing...

I'm thinking of you; there's not a lot I can say.

*sits next to Amy and s her*

I remember that state with my sister. The only real comfort was that her last moments of true conciousness were when she was being moved to a helicopter to be airlifted for transplant. We had gone all the way to pulling favors from congressmen to get her there. She was concious on the way to the lift and never regained it once we arrived there by car a couple hours later.

thinking of you too..

Oh Amy my thoughts are with you