The weekend that just passed was an emotional one for me. The boy had his kindy concert. Each time I see him go on the stage to sing and dance, I would have this silly grin plastered on my face. Every proud parent has this grin you know, it surfaces whenever you watch your kid being themselves, being adorable. Of course the grin disappears into a growl when they are acting up. However, at the concert, there were only silly grins. Every parent was smiling from ear to ear.
At the same time my heart was laden. Just the day before, I had visited my dad at the ICU. He had suffered a 2nd stroke. The first stroke several years ago left him with dementia. He was otherwise rather healthy. Despite taking medication to control his blood pressure, he had a 2nd stroke. Sigh. This time, it was worse. It was not due to a blood clot but due to bleeding.
Though somewhat knowing somewhere deep in my heart that this may happen, nothing, nothing prepared me for the sight of dad looking so frail on the hospital bed. I thought I would be strong but the dam burst and the tears flowed. I had to get out of the room fast to compose myself so that dad would not see me in that state.
Dad is having another scan done today, after which he may be transferred out of ICU into a normal ward. I hope that that means he will be on his way to recovery. The road ahead is rough and hard though. Perhaps the fact that he has dementia will slightly cushion the impact for him of the fact that he may not be able to walk. Perhaps he will. We don’t know yet. We will get there one day at a time. For now, there are more pressing things to worry about.
This weekend I am taken to the wheel of life celebrating youth, watching happy proud parents and then talking about aging with all the relatives. We are all mostly in our 40s and 50s and watching dad, we all realise that we will all get to this place one day. We will all become old one day. What will it be like for us when we are old?
It has been a roller coaster weekend. Perhaps that is why I am tired. The boy is home with me today because he has a rash on his face and his left eye is swollen. An allergic reaction, I think, from all that makeup slathered on his face. After getting the girl ready for school, I went back to bed and slept like a log till 10pm. No exercise for me today I guess. I am tired.
Hey girl, ((hugs))), sorry to hear about your dad, yea I remember those days, and feeling so helpless. How can someone who was once so strong, now seem so frail. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way.
Yes you said it, how can someone who was once so strong, now seem so frail.
Sigh…hope you are at peace now. Take heart in the joy of things giving your soul strength in trying times.
Thank you.
I’m sorry to hear about your dad in ICU and your boy had rashes, hope they are getting better by now!
Take care and all the best!
Thanks.
sorry to hear about your dad. i pray too that normal ward means to recovery.
my fil was admitted as well last thursday. he had a mild stroke and a failed kidney (we knew this 4 years ago but he was stubborn enough not to do bypass then and only relied on medication). he’s out from icu as well but due to his heart condition, he can’t do the normal dialysis but the slower process method that takes 12-24 hours. so when he needs to do this dialysis, he has to go back to icu. will be bringing the girls up penang to visit him and cheer him up.
you take care mg!
You take care too. I hope that the visit by the girls will cheer your dad up.
Wish your dad speedy recovery.
Thank you.
i hope your dad will recover soon and more good news to come. it’s very emotionally draining seeing our loved ones in such a helpless state. that brings me to worry about my in laws. all of the are taking high blood pressure medics but that seems to mask that everything is ok since bp is controlled. sigh..
In my dad’s case, we did ask the doctor why he still had a stroke since he is on medication. The reply was, since dad is old, his brain has shrunk, so a knock may have caused it to bleed. Couple that with the blood thinning medication he is taking for his bp (which is a double aged sword), it may have caused him to bleed more easily.
am sorry to hear about your dad… it’s not easy to see him so helpless.. I do sincerely wish he’ll get well.. be strong for him ya..
He is getting better but the road ahead is not easy.
sorry to hear about your dad, MG. speedy recovery to your dad. take care.
Thank you.