Grandpa Update

Here's the Reader's Digest version :)

We'd continue to appreciate prayers for Grandpa. Last Wednesday night/Thursday morning, he went to the hospital. He's had breathing/throat problems for years, but nothing very serious...like he might have a choking/gasping spell once in a while, but it would only last a few minutes. Apparently, that night it was really bad, and he called 911. He gets confused at night, so he was confused and thinking that someone was in his house choking, but the ambulance came and got it all figured out. They were also able to track down our phone number and called my dad, so he went down right away. Then they went to the local hospital. Around 9 am they decided to send him to the hospital in Erie where there was a throat specialist, and he's been there ever since in the MICU.

They thought that the problem is some sort of growth/tumor, and so they scheduled a biopsy this morning. Uncle Bill went down there this afternoon, and so we have details, such as they are :) They did not find any tumor or mass or anything. They put in a temporary tracheostemy, which means that he no longer has breathing tubes and stuff hanging out of his mouth. Because it's temporary, they'll be able to seal it up and he will be able to breathe and talk normally.

He's sedated. They've kept him pretty much out of it, because when they start taking him off it, he starts trying to get out of bed. That's a bad thing because he's not supposed to try to get up, but it's a good thing because it means he's fighting. They are trying to get him awake more, and this afternoon he was able to respond to some things. For example, when the nurse asked him if he was in any pain, he responded no, and he also responded to questions/commands that Uncle Bill gave.

Anyhow...that's all I know. I am planning on doing some regular blogging (haha, when am I not?), and I do have some rather, ahem, interesting pictures I want to share with you all, so stay tuned!