I feel guilty and ashamed for writing this, for sharing this. But, the truth is, I need to put this down in words. And, perhaps even more importantly, I need to ask for vibes...prayers...whatever...
My dad was rushed to the emergency room this evening. I live in Ohio and he lives in Pennsylvania -- on the border of New York and New Jersey, in Pike County. To make a long story short, he is an alcoholic. However, just how severe his case is was unknown by me until recently. Apparently, he went off this weekend on a bender. He's been drinking since Thursday and didn't stop until late this afternoon or early this evening. He and his wife argued (he is not a mean drunk, but can be belligerent) and she wound up staying at their camp site last night. But, he didn't stop drinking once she was gone. Instead, he increased his intake. And, this morning, when she returned home, she went off and flushed his alcohol down the drain only to find that he had hidden more. She left again, he bought more alcohol, and then he decided he wanted to go for a hike. I should also mention that when he started drinking Thursday, he stopped eating. He wanted to eat, but nothing was satisfactory. In fact, my stepmother told me that he threw a tantrum at a diner because he didn't like their french fries. And, so you can see, he was not well this weekend. And, when he went for a hike, that was the worst thing possible.
He went out at about noon today and, when my stepbrother went back to the camp site to see his mother, he told her that he'd seen my father's car up by the trail head. That was at 6:30pm. My father left with no food, no water, no cell phone, and just a bottle (or two) of rum. When my stepmother realized he had never returned home, she called the safety patrol (the "cops" of their gated community) and they set out to search on 4 wheelers. Two hours later and they still couldn't find him. But, maybe a half hour after that, just as the safety patrol were about to call the police, my father was found. He had passed out in back of a dumpster near the community's dog park and was screaming for help. When they found him, he was disoriented (he couldn't remember his name, the date, his date of birth, or where he was). He was covered in cuts and bruises and had numerous welts and bug bites. The cops called 911 and his wife and they set off to the hospital. And, from there it has only gotten worse.
Once at the hospital, they determined he was extremely dehydrated, had severe sunburn, and had a core body temperature of 92F. They did an EKG (normal) as well as a chest xray and a myriad of blood tests. And, they hooked him up to IV's and began to warm him with a heated blanket. However, while he has perked up some, the damage he has done to his body is not yet known and he is not out of danger -- he is not in stable condition at this time. And, while the hospital is trying to save his life and minimize the damage already done, he is trying to pull out his IV's and is acting irrationally and delusionally. I'll spare the details, but he is at risk of being put in restraints (why he hasn't already is beyond me) and, potentially, sedated. We don't know the results of the chest xray or blood tests, but the doctors believe damage has been done -- especially to his kidneys and possibly his liver as well. He has some conditions that already required his doctor to warn my father not to drink, but, apparently, that has not done anything to curb his addiction. He knows about AA as well as other possibilities, but he doesn't have the desire to quit. It hurts and I'm scared, but I'm also angry and frustrated. It is a hard place to be in.
I can't drive and, thus, cannot get out to Pennsylvania at this time. But, if need be, I'll get there in a heartbeat. Instead, I am sitting here, glued to my computer with my cell in my hand. I'm waiting on the blood results. I am waiting on a prognosis. I am waiting for something, anything. My father and I have always had a strained relationship, but he is my dad. I can't quit loving him and I can't stop caring -- especially now. So, please, if you pray, say a prayer for my dad. And, if you don't pray, a good thought or healing energy would be appreciated. Of course, my main concern is his well-being. But, those prayers and thoughts would go a long way in assisting me as well. And, perhaps my family too...
My dad was rushed to the emergency room this evening. I live in Ohio and he lives in Pennsylvania -- on the border of New York and New Jersey, in Pike County. To make a long story short, he is an alcoholic. However, just how severe his case is was unknown by me until recently. Apparently, he went off this weekend on a bender. He's been drinking since Thursday and didn't stop until late this afternoon or early this evening. He and his wife argued (he is not a mean drunk, but can be belligerent) and she wound up staying at their camp site last night. But, he didn't stop drinking once she was gone. Instead, he increased his intake. And, this morning, when she returned home, she went off and flushed his alcohol down the drain only to find that he had hidden more. She left again, he bought more alcohol, and then he decided he wanted to go for a hike. I should also mention that when he started drinking Thursday, he stopped eating. He wanted to eat, but nothing was satisfactory. In fact, my stepmother told me that he threw a tantrum at a diner because he didn't like their french fries. And, so you can see, he was not well this weekend. And, when he went for a hike, that was the worst thing possible.
He went out at about noon today and, when my stepbrother went back to the camp site to see his mother, he told her that he'd seen my father's car up by the trail head. That was at 6:30pm. My father left with no food, no water, no cell phone, and just a bottle (or two) of rum. When my stepmother realized he had never returned home, she called the safety patrol (the "cops" of their gated community) and they set out to search on 4 wheelers. Two hours later and they still couldn't find him. But, maybe a half hour after that, just as the safety patrol were about to call the police, my father was found. He had passed out in back of a dumpster near the community's dog park and was screaming for help. When they found him, he was disoriented (he couldn't remember his name, the date, his date of birth, or where he was). He was covered in cuts and bruises and had numerous welts and bug bites. The cops called 911 and his wife and they set off to the hospital. And, from there it has only gotten worse.
Once at the hospital, they determined he was extremely dehydrated, had severe sunburn, and had a core body temperature of 92F. They did an EKG (normal) as well as a chest xray and a myriad of blood tests. And, they hooked him up to IV's and began to warm him with a heated blanket. However, while he has perked up some, the damage he has done to his body is not yet known and he is not out of danger -- he is not in stable condition at this time. And, while the hospital is trying to save his life and minimize the damage already done, he is trying to pull out his IV's and is acting irrationally and delusionally. I'll spare the details, but he is at risk of being put in restraints (why he hasn't already is beyond me) and, potentially, sedated. We don't know the results of the chest xray or blood tests, but the doctors believe damage has been done -- especially to his kidneys and possibly his liver as well. He has some conditions that already required his doctor to warn my father not to drink, but, apparently, that has not done anything to curb his addiction. He knows about AA as well as other possibilities, but he doesn't have the desire to quit. It hurts and I'm scared, but I'm also angry and frustrated. It is a hard place to be in.
I can't drive and, thus, cannot get out to Pennsylvania at this time. But, if need be, I'll get there in a heartbeat. Instead, I am sitting here, glued to my computer with my cell in my hand. I'm waiting on the blood results. I am waiting on a prognosis. I am waiting for something, anything. My father and I have always had a strained relationship, but he is my dad. I can't quit loving him and I can't stop caring -- especially now. So, please, if you pray, say a prayer for my dad. And, if you don't pray, a good thought or healing energy would be appreciated. Of course, my main concern is his well-being. But, those prayers and thoughts would go a long way in assisting me as well. And, perhaps my family too...
