Thank you & update

Thank you, Aunt Theresa, for keeping the updates going here. I thought I’d share add some info/updates because I know it’s important for the family to continue to hear what’s going on, feel open to asking questions and having discussion. I’ll do my best to fill in details, although I’m sure I’ll forget some here and there. Please feel free to comment here, email (finntastic34@gmail.com) or text/call me: 847-347-1369.

The last day or so has definitely been interesting and thank you to all who were involved.  With Aunt Helen’s help, Dad got my Mom checked into the UIHC yesterday to get her mental health back on track. She’ll be back on track soon – I’m optimistic based on what I’ve seen/heard. She’s gotten sleep finally, which has been part of the problem for both her and my Dad over the last couple of weeks.

Mom’s thoughts have been racing and she’s been having a hard time focusing. She’s had a bit of a busy year – retiring, moving, Grandpa passing away, a trip to Disney World immediately after Grandpa’s funeral, some minor illnesses this fall (flu, sinus infection and gout), additional travel and generally getting adjusted to new routines. Phew – I’m exhausted just talking about it!!! As it turns out, the medication for the gout seems to have adversely affected her mood and has given her a pretty harsh reaction. While it seemed that she might be OK soon… the time was right yesterday to get her into the hands of the UIHC docs. She’ll likely be in the hospital for a couple of days. There are some colorful characters in there, but she’s doing great and they keep telling us they wish they had more patients like her. I admire my Mom for being brave and doing something that’s very difficult for many of us to accept.

My Dad is also doing well now. He’s been (as my Mom said) running a marathon (with her) and it caught up to him. He had an episode with his atrial fib late last night/today. He ended up fainting while he was doing his daily hot tub routine this morning (yes, I said daily. Rough life, huh?!?!). Early this morning he recognized that he was “out of rhythm” so he took more of his regular medication (thinking it would help and based on his doc’s suggestion), but he ended up having a reaction which caused the fainting (the extra meds & hot tub combo). He bumped his eyebrow (small cut & bruise) and it looks a lot worse than it has turned out to be. He spent the day in the ER – fortunately he wasn’t considered to be an “emergency” and others were, so he got to catch up on his rest most of the day while in the great care of the UIHC emergency room! They eventually cardioverted him (zapped him w/the paddles) and it went very well according to the doctors and nurses. Once he’s back in rhythm he’s back to normal pretty quickly. He’s taking it slow, but is in great shape now.

So, overall a busy day! One I hope to not experience again, but at least my parents made it easy and kept the excitement under one roof! I gave the Java House plenty of business today, got very familiar with the hospital hallways/artwork and ended the day with some much needed retail therapy. I’m now ready for Christmas… well, mostly

Again, thank you to all of the thoughts, prayers and well wishes. We’re very sorry that the weather wasn’t better and the memorial mass in Davenport didn’t turn out as planned. I know that was something many of us were looking forward to, so I’m confident we can figure out another Lazio get together soon enough!
We should have a better plan after tomorrow morning’s meeting with the doctors. Thanks again to Aunt Theresa, Aunt Helen, Uncle Randy and Uncle John for support yesterday/today. Thanks to all who sent prayers, thoughts and were there in spirit. Your continued support is the thing that means the most and is greatly appreciated. Again, I know I’m forgetting details, but I’ll try to add more later this week. Please don’t hesitate to reach out in the meantime.

Tina

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