Father had a stroke early this morning (2:30 am). Hes in the hospital, ive been here in Houston all day. I was the closest relative to him, so I got her about 7 am this morning, other relatives have been showing up since about 1 pm. Its a mild stroke, back of the brain, most likely due to a migrating blood clot. The did an MRI, will have results tomorrow, put him on an anti-clotting medication that targets platlets, mabye an anti-coagulant tomorrow to help break up the clot (if the MRI confirms all suspicions). he can talk, is coherent, but has some minor difficulty with motor functions (balance, standing, walking), and had some trouble swallowing, which coincides with an inability to use his vocal cords (he can only speak in a whisper as of this morning). Part of his face was numb, and although he could move it and make expressions, the effect of expressions was much dimmer on the side of his face affected by the stroke. I believe that his vocal chords may also be affected by this retardation of muscle control, which would explain his difficulty in swallowing and speaking. However, this evening he began to be able to swallow slightly, and there is now some tone in his voice. I believe he will make a full recovery, but everyone else is pretty much in shambles, and Im the only one holding things together right now. Its difficult, but my father raised me well, so I know how to handle crises. However, your prayers and good wishes are always welcome, and needed now, my friends, more than ever. I dont know when I will be posting again soon, my internet access is pretty intermittant, thanks in advance, everyone.
FireChicken
[ 08. November 2003, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: FireChicken ]
Posted by fenton23 (Member # 878) on :
Our prayers are with you and your family.
I'm just over here in Austin. If there's something I can do to help, please let me know. I'm e-mailing my cell #.
Posted by Big A (Member # 1761) on :
Our prayers are with you.
Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
Man....
My prayers are with your Dad, you and your family.
Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
The best of luck to your family for a full recovery.
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
My prayers are with you.....been there with father-in-law..... Posted by TimeLord (Member # 1389) on :
Ditto!!
Posted by Stealth Performance (Member # 1072) on :
Ditto the last Ditto Posted by Joey Red (Member # 550) on :
You know you got mine.
Posted by 35th_camaro_ss (Member # 1738) on :
hopes for a fast recovery
Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
Thoughts and prayers are with your father and family. Here's hoping for a full recovery.
Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Sorry to hear it, our thoughts are with you.
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
I am very sorry to hear about your father FC. My prayers are with you, your father and family.
Posted by RagSS (Member # 1127) on :
...Our prayers out to you and your family, ...hang in there.
Kevin
Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
Sorry to hear . Went through it with Mom.
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
Sorry to hear this.I wish your dad a speedy recovery. Posted by MaryandRalph (Member # 244) on :
You have our thoughts and prayers. hang in there.
Posted by Rhode Island Red (Member # 220) on :
that is awful .. please keep us updated
Posted by SS 891 (Member # 1968) on :
My Wife and I will keep you and your family in our thoughts.
Posted by 35th 02 ss (Member # 1667) on :
My prayers are with you and your family.
Posted by SS_CarGuy (Member # 2065) on :
I will be pulling for your dad. Sounds like you are on top of things. Still, it's a very tough time for everyone. I hope he makes a full recovery. We are all very concerned and hope for a speedy and full recovery..
Posted by chrisL (Member # 97) on :
hoping for the best.
Posted by SteelHorse (Member # 1725) on :
Thoughts and Prayers.
Posted by Bello SS (Member # 1304) on :
Prayers are with you.
Posted by Harry P (Member # 533) on :
Thoughts and Prayers here also... hang in there.
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
Here's hoping for a fast and full recovery.
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
MY thoughts and prayers are with you. Posted by sscamaro (Member # 1330) on :
Thoughts and prayers are with you. My mom had a heart attack last year. Its tough.
Posted by RHT (Member # 902) on :
Take care of yourself too. It's super stressful, I know. All the best to you and your Dad.
Ryan
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
We will pray for him and your family! Sorry to hear.
Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
Best of luck with everything....
Posted by westell (Member # 2034) on :
You're in the BEST town for this type of thing ! Good Luck ! I'll be thinking of ya'll
Posted by Macky (Member # 1427) on :
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Posted by Bandit (Member # 1867) on :
You are in our thoughts
Posted by Old Coyote (Member # 1343) on :
Cindy and my thoughts and prayers go out to both you and your entire family Posted by mhayman (Member # 146) on :
Hope everything turns out well FC.
Posted by CaminoLS6 (Member # 2041) on :
My thoughts are with you,FC.
Posted by DWS (Member # 2009) on :
Very sorry to see your post, sincere best wishes to your father, you and your family!
[ 07. November 2003, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: DWS ]
Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
Thanks very much to everyone, i believe all the prayers and wishes have helped. It has turned out that his stroke was a mild, back of the brain stroke, most likely due to a blod-clot. He has retained full cognitive ability, and the doctors predict that he will return to 95%-98% of his pre-stroke ability. His only current symptoms are as follows:
1. Slight numbness and slow responsiveness in the right side of his face, and his muscle control there is slightly retarded, however, he is still able to make facial expressions, and has some trouble focusing.
2. His ability to swallow is returning, and with it his abilit to use vocal chords to produce tones in his speech (before now, all his speech has been in whispering tones).
3. He cannot feel heat or cold on the nerves on the right side of his body, but the doctors tell us this is very normal in stroke victims, but it is only temporary, and his nervous system will return to normal in time.
So, in short, hes doing allright, and is joking like normal. However, the doctors still wont let him eat or drink, they are worried about him choking, or getting water in his lungs and contracting pneumonia. My dad is in his late 40's, and is otherwise perfectly healthy, so this came as a shock to everyone. Mom and siblings are having difficulty dealing with the shock, so Ive been busy trying to hold things together, but everything is looking up. I expect he will be in the hospital through the next two weeks though, and he has braces that interefered with the MRI scan they gave him yesterday, so they want him to come back in a month when the braces are out, and have another MRI, just so they can be sure there are no other major problems.
In the meantime, I want to thank you all again for the support and wishes. There is no doubt in my mind that your thoughts and prayers had an effect, because his recovery, and the lightness of the stroke, is nothing short of a miracle. Thanks all, in the meantime, maybe some of you Houstonians can answer this for me:
is EVERYONE who drives downtown crazy, or is it just me? Posted by blkragss02 (Member # 1801) on :
Our prayers are with you hang in there
Posted by Mike2001SS (Member # 2088) on :
FC glad to hear things are going to be ok for your dad and all your family is in mine and Cindy's prayers for a very speedy recovery. We know you will take care of them.
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
Yes, Mr. FC, you are correct.....some of the worst drivers on the planet reside in Houston....be careful.....
Your dad is in his late 40's?? Wow!! That seems awfully early to be having a stroke....I'm glad he's recovering as well as he is, and probly the age factor will help him recover completely. My prayers are with you & yours.... Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Glad to hear that there is a somewhat positive status, bad strokes are awful, it's great that his is more mild. Keep hanging in and glad things are looking brighter. Posted by Sizzle (Member # 503) on :
I say one for you and your dad man. I don't know how close you are with him, but if it's anything like I am with my dad, I can only imagine what you are going through.
Posted by CK-1 99SS (Member # 93) on :
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)