(no subject)

Hello friends

My dad's in poor shape again. He's been in the hospital for a week or so since falling down a flight of stairs at home. The problem from my end of things is that I am not sure what is going on, or what if anything I should do; I've heard a mix of news, none from very reliable sources. Dad is the most lucid person I'm immediately related to, but is prevented from telling me about it himself.

The most recent news from mom made it sound like dad had broken something pelvic, and that his prognosis for walking again in his lifetime -- he turns 80 this year -- was "fifty-fifty", a term mom applies to any chance lower than absolute certainty. She is mistrustful of the doctors at the hospital, who according to her are all "Pakistani or something", and all very stupid as well. She called to ask if I could look up a certain heart medicine of dad's online, because she'd heard rumors that it was in the midst of a recall or class-action lawsuit for making people fall down. (Nothing in Google News, and Wikipedia listed diarrhea as its worst side effect. I told her this.)

But god bless her, she's keeping it together, and I can't blame her very much for looking for a way to find some control over this misfortune -- or, failing that, something to be angry at.

As for me, I emerge from an unusually intense period of work, and now it dawns on me that I ought to consider getting involved somehow, even if only to get some first-hand information about the situation. This isn't like the fall of 2004, when dad went in for hip surgery. While difficult and painful, that was a highly controlled excursion, undertaken after months of preparation from both professionals and patient. This isn't that at all, the medical personnel involved are all strangers, and my poor family is so confused.

And so am I, but with the murk of distance, rather than addlement -- all this is unfolding up in central Maine. (Another difference from 2004: I don't own a car any more.) It's not entirely clear what I ought to do. I can get the name and number of the facility dad is in from mom, and then I guess I'll call them and explain myself, asking about my dad's condition? And maybe ask to talk to him himself? Or arrange a visit? I guess I'll figure it out.

Dad's OK

Just spoke with my dad on the phone. He busted his tailbone all right, and is in a physical therapy program in Waterville. By all accounts he's bouncing back quite readily, and he sounded just fine.

He fell down different stairs than the ones I thought he did, which seems like a silly thing to be relieved about, but the stairs I was thinking of were the ridiculously steep flight that leads to my parents' basement via a hole they cut in their apartment floor, some time ago. I told him this. "Ugh, those would have finished me," he agreed. (I hate those stupid stairs, which freshly alarm me every time I visit, and am frustrated that my elderly parents would have them installed. But that's my parents for you.)

His doctors have scheduled a meeting to discuss his therapy next Tuesday morning, and family is invited; I'm planning on attending that.

Thanks to all who lent advice and other good wishes here and elsewhere... I sincerely appreciate it (and passed them along, as appropriate).