02.16.13

Dennis asked me to start a blog to keep our family updated on my dad's illness. We all live all over and have our own lives -- but in the end we are all created from the same family and that bond isn't made thinner by space & time. I will update this blog every few weeks just to keep everyone updated on my dads progress. My dad is 71 years old.

Nevertheless my dad today.
He is spending 99% of his day in a hospital bed. My mom has it in the living room.
She has 2 nurse aides that come 2 hrs , three days a week
She has also requested someone from physical therapy to come by to help him with some strengthening exercises.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 17 years ago and over the past six months there has been a drastic decline.
For instance he cannot feed himself, wash himself, or go to the bathroom.
He also has PTSD from his combat tour during the Vietnam War. Growing up he would talk about hallucinations of Viet Kong outside the house.
Part of his Parkinson's Disease has caused dementia. At first he may seem like the conversation is mainly normal but he screams out for grandma or asks who my mom is.
He cannot eat regular food, so his foods need to be soft and usually need to have this thickener added to it. Parkinson's Disease affects the ability to swallow, and often causes choking. He is at risk for fluid/foods to enter his lungs because his swallow path isn't working normal.

The company I think is mainly for my mom, its a support system. She thinks people need to visit my dad and those visits are usually productive for about an hour or less.....but it makes her feel better to feel like family and friends bring him joy when they visit. Again --- It makes her feel better.

My dad was a man who lived his life as he chose and loved sports, pubs, cooking, traveling --and now he is literally trapped inside his own body.

Donna, Aiden, Dennis , his boys, and my aunt Cathy visited today for a few hours -- after we left my dad was pretty mad and was yelling for the police because my mom wouldn't let him leave. he cannot walk. We feel like my mom will be looking at placement in a home for him soon. She has been an excellent care giver and devoted to him their entire 46 year marriage but she is very tiny compared to him and she is in her late 60's and now needs help. He actually needs someone to care for him 24/7.
Her goal is to have him placed at Hines VA Hospital in Maywood Illinois near Brookfield Zoo. They have a long term care facility there and Donna & I work there so we can keep close tabs on his care.

So that's my initial post , 1st blog ---
Hope you can all sign up to be in the Parkinson's Disease Walk this year & lets double our donations!