I want to get back to the dark nights series – but am taking a short hiatus until I can get my head back on straight…
This has been a surreal last couple of weeks for me. In March, my dad and mom went in for their annual physical. Good news for my mom. Bad news for my dad. He was diagnosed with borderline stage 2 Diabetes and told his PSA count was higher than last year. From what I understand, an elevated PSA count almost always denotes prostate cancer.
That was from their primary care physician. Who sent my dad to the dietitian and also to the first specialist – the Urologist.
In the meantime, my dad injured his knee on the tennis court and schedules another appointment with his primary care doc to check it out. Doc suspects torn ligament and sends him to specialist number two – the Ortho doc.
Urologist checks him over and finds things he doesn’t like, so dad has to go back for a prostate biopsy.
Next day, Ortho doc checks dad out and suspects a torn meniscus and decides he wants an MRI to make sure.
Next day, dad finds out it is indeed prostate cancer, and has to come back in for CAT and bone scans to see if the cancer has spread. Four very long days later, we see the Urologist to find out the severity of the cancer and discuss treatment options. Good news, cancer has not spread. Bad news is doc suggests surgery to remove prostate or hefty radiation treatments. Dad opts for surgery.
Next day, MRI is done which confirms Orthopedic doc’s diagnosis of torn meniscus and tells dad he will need surgery.
Dad decides to get the knee better first. So, they scheduled the surgery for yesterday, but before the Ortho doc will do surgery, dad has to go back to primary care physician for a pre-surgery physical. Last week, dad went back to Primary Care doc to get rechecked. Doc finds some abnormalities in his EKG and sends dad to specialist number three, the Cardiologist.
Two days later, dad is having more some heart tests done. Sure enough, Cardio doc doesn’t like the results and orders a stress test. Next day, dad’s doing the drug induced stress test due to his bum knee. Find out the results the next day. There is not enough blood getting to his heart. So, he needs to talk to doc about options.
We met with specialist number three yesterday. She recommended an Angiogram so they could actually go up into the heart and see if there is any artery blockage. Enter specialist number four, a different Cardiologist, who can do the Angiogram today.
7 o’clock this morning, we’re in the hospital and dad is getting prepared for his Angiogram. The best case scenario is there is only minor blockage that can be managed by medication. Worst case scenario is the blockages are so bad that he needs open heart surgery. 10am we find out that dad’s blockages fall into the latter category. Enter specialist number five, the Cardio surgeon.
My dad’s open heart surgery is scheduled for Friday. After his blocked arteries are by-passed, he will have 4-8 weeks recovery before he will be able to have any other surgeries.
Tonight, my head is reeling and my heart is hurting. I’m not able yet to fully explain what I’m thinking or feeling. Well, other than this surreal sense that the world has changed. Three weeks ago, I knew what was right and wrong, here or there, up or down, and was fairly certain of what I could expect life to be.
I feel like I went to sleep and woke up in Wonderland. There doesn’t seem to be any rules in this place and it is nothing like I expected. There is a twist and topsy-turvy spin waiting behind every tree. I can’t say I’m scared. I’m not really. I trust God.
No, what I’m feeling isn’t fear, I am just feeling…older…
Please pray for us. May the God of the Universe bless you with wondrous things.