This is day two my writings from the hospital one year ago. My dad had a bowel obstruction at this point and we were uncertain about whether it could be cleared. This is my longest writing from the entire 6 day period. I wrote twice that day. Both emails are below.
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8/27/10, 10am
Hi Friends,
I arrived at the hospital this morning around 7am. Dad had a stable night with no codes. However, they had to restrain him last night because he began pulling out tubes and ivs.
He is rather confused this morning. I can’t understand much speech and we are not really communicating. But I have sat quietly in his room.
I spoke with the doctor this morning. The doctor has said that they have managed to stabilize most of his functions, like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels. However, the obstruction still exists. The bowel obstruction exists at the transition between the small and large intestines. The obstruction appears to be about four feet in length. The doctor described it as “the pig in the python.”
They are taking another x-ray this morning. Also, they are doing an enema right now at my request. The doctor feels that the obstruction is higher than the enema might normally reach, but he said for peace of mind, it was fine to do this procedure. I have actually administered enemas with him in the past (okay, maybe too much information), and they have been very effective.
Dad has clearly decided that he does not want the surgery. Therefore, if the blockage does not clear, the doctor is suggesting that we might move to “comfort measures.” This means that they would administer narcotics for the pain and remove much of the other treatments – like aggressive antibiotics, lung nebulizer treatments, etc. And if this became the case, we would be allowing his body to shut down.
I will learn more after the soap-suds enema routine. I will report more later today or this evening.
I would like one more time to converse with dad. I’m hoping that he becomes lucid enough for this. But if I don’t get this, I’m comforted that we have had a number of years recently of very good communication and close relationship. I have spoken with him about love, faith, past experiences, and so much more. And for this, I am grateful.
Thanks for your continued prayers.
In Christ,
Brian
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38).
8/27/10 2pm
Dad as a young boy in Missouri
Hi Friends,
Well, the enema did not succeed. It appears that the blockage is higher up and past “enema range.”
I spoke with his primary doctor again. He said that if the decision remains not to operate, it may be time to begin the comfort measures. I made that decision this morning. More about that in a moment.
For some, they may wonder why he would not immediately elect for surgery that would likely be “successful.” It is because the surgery is just the first leg in the race. He would face a number of days or weeks on a ventilator, followed by time in the hospital, and then more time in a rehab center. And then the ultimate hope would be a return to bed-rest at an adult family home. He has already run that race with his broken hip. It is not a race he chooses to run again. And of course, Parkinson’s just compounds this all tremendously.
I respect and admire his decision.
So they have now taken him off all antibiotics, nebulizers, and treatments. He is still on oxygen and has a tube down his nose into his stomach that draws out all the septic stuff. He also has available to him a morphine drip. But so far, he has very forcefully denied that drug. He says he is not in significant pain. I have reminded him that he does not get a medal for putting up with pain. But so far, I don’t think he is too uncomfortable.
Dad at work with AT&T (see mecanical switching equipment)
So here’s a funny story. I had time with him this afternoon. He was very lucid and clear of speech. In fact, he was the most cogent of all the time he has been in the hospital. I asked him if he was comfortable, he said he was hot. So we managed his bed covers a bit. Then I gave him some water on a sponge. He loved that. And then out of the blue he said, “Vanilla ice cream.” I said, “You want vanilla ice cream?” He said, “Yes!” He said that he had been asking me for two days for “vanilla ice cream,” but I was not understanding. And so I fed him vanilla ice cream with a smile and a laugh.
I also gave him a shave and cleaned his eyes with a warm towel. This has always been one of his favorite practices.
The doctor says that his blood is now going septic. In addition, his heart rate is at times erratic. All of his body systems will now work overtime trying to make up for the other problems in his body.
During our time of good conversation, I also read to him from John 14. It is one of my all-time favorite passages. Jesus has said to his disciples that he is leaving to a place where they cannot come, but they will follow later. Peter asks about this place, and Jesus responds,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-3)
We spoke for a few minutes about the house of God with many rooms, and about Jesus’ invitation to all of us to join him in his Father’s loving home.
It has been a hard day but a tender one. I’m quite grateful for the opportunity to share in conversation this afternoon.
I’m also grateful to you all as my friends and extended family. No man is an island. We are all in need of the Divine touch and care shared one to another.
With Christ’s love,
Brian
In my Father’s house are many rooms ( John 14:2)
Brian Boone 
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