Good News: The surgery went very well. Mom got 5 bypasses, her heart seems to be tolerating and enjoying them. She got two units of blood, which she is also tolerating well. Her labwork since the surgery all came back looking great. That’s a relief. Bad News: Mom’s lungs aren’t in great shape. The doctor said she might be able to come off of the ventilator tomorrow, which would be great. He also cautioned, however, that it’s entirely possible that she won’t be able to come off the ventilator (tube down her throat helping her to breathe) for several days, a week, even a month. And they’ll keep her unconscious…

(graphic found here…) You all know that my mom had a heart attack almost 2 weeks ago, and is currently (like, as we speak, I’m writing from the waiting room at the hospital) undergoing bypass surgery (the nurse just came out and said, so far so good, just started about an hour ago with the actual surgery, and it lasts 4 – 6 hours). Some of you know that Ted’s aunt passed away a few weeks ago, and LaLunas, CG, and Uncle flew to England for the funeral. Now, to prove the adage bad news comes in threes, Ted’s brother was out riding his bicycle on his birthday, and wiped…

Mom did great with her walking and breathing exercises, so her lungs are ready for surgery. That’s a relief. Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday morning, first thing. It’s a longish surgery, so I won’t know until afternoon how it went. Alaska is an hour earlier than California. So you may not hear from me until later tomorrow. I’ll let you know asap, OK?

This week, my mom is in that limbo area – feeling so much better than a week ago, still working up to being ready for surgery. We spend days lazing in her room. We talk. We read. We watch TV. Throughout it all, she puffs on a device they have given her to strengthen her lungs, and takes walks around the hallways. And slowly, out comes the story, as she realizes how abnormal her behavior has been these last many months, as she got sicker and sicker. Instead of realizing that something was wrong as her health deteriorated, that something was truly, deeply wrong, an insidious voice inside of her…

Looks like Mom’s surgery won’t be until Wednesday at the soonest.  The doctor came by this morning and said she needs more lung strength and so on, before she can have the surgery.  So more of that stressful boredom that typifies hospital stays.  More trying to get her ready, more her trying to get ready.  More blah blah blah.  I hope it’s Wednesday.  I want to go home on Friday.  🙁

Mom’s house in Juneau is on a very steep hill, perhaps the steepest in a very hilly city. From the street to her apartment, which is built on the side of a mountain, is a very steep set of stairs. Within her apartment is another steep set of stairs, with the kitchen and living room on one floor, and the bathroom and bedroom on another floor. Add these stairs to arteries that are very blocked up, and icy, icy conditions outside, and it’s a recipe for disaster. And certainly no place for a person to rehabilitate after heart bypass surgery. Since mom is out of work at the moment, she’s…

This whole hospital thing is sucking more and more. I mean, the doctors and nurses are wonderful, the cafeteria isn’t bad, and they have an on site hotel that I just moved to, which will mean I can return my car, and spend more time with my mom. There’s free wifi, and I have my brother’s laptop to keep me company. So, what’s not to like? I can’t get the thought out of my head that my mom could die in this hospital. This could be the last building she ever sees, and it’s scaring the hell out of me. Heart bypass surgery isn’t easy in the best of conditions,…

It’s almost 9am Alaska time on Wednesday, and they just took my mom in for an angiogram.  If they find blockage in one area only, they’ll likely perform an angioplasty and place a stint.  If there’s more blockage, or if other complications mean angioplasty isn’t the best option, they’ll schedule her for a bypass surgery.  Now is the waiting part.