Dad's Surgery

Today Dad had surgery to remove 3 large bladder stones, each the size of walnuts.  Things went very well and the anesthesiologist was able to give him a type and amount of anesthesia that they hoped would limit the damage to his brain and cognitive function...and it looks like they were successful on all accounts.  Another tender mercy!

I had a chance to talk with him and he seems to know me.  Time will tell how well he comes out of it though as last time he seemed pretty lucid at times and yet now has no memory of the events.  In fact, one day I was talking to him about the gall bladder surgery and he responded, "how come no one ever told me that I had the surgery?"  LOL 

How blessed are we to live in a day and age when these things can be taken care of.  It is amazing - and I am so grateful that I live now rather than when a person would just have to suffer and even die from some of these diseases and illnesses. 

Priesthood in Action

Yesterday I took Dad to Church.  We went to St. Joseph's Villa where Mom was a patient and where they both served their mission.  Dad loves it there so much and I can certainly understand why.

The first time I ever went to a meeting there I was truly humbled by the simple faith of the members and the kindness of the people providing services for those who cannot do for themselves.  This entails helping the patients get from their rooms down to the chapel, passing out hymnals, passing the Sacrament, giving talks, prayers, greeting, taking the patients to Relief Society or Priesthood Meeting, and then back to their rooms, etc. The particular Sunday that I visited, a ward in the Stake was providing support for the branch.  The majority of the support came from young men and women.  It was an extraordinarily touching scene to watch as young, Aaronic Priesthood holders passed the Sacrament to the members of the branch.  There was a woman in attendance who was obviously in some state of dementia or forgetfulness.  She clung tenderly to a life-sized baby doll and would intermittently sing to it.  As the Sacrament came to her the young man helped her balance the baby doll so that she could partake of the sacrament, and even patiently helped her as she tried to get the baby doll to take the Sacrament.  Another woman was blind and another young man gently helped her by pressing the bread and water gently to her lips.  Another woman seemed almost catatonic - but as the young Aaronic Priesthood holder helped her get the emblems to her mouth it became clear that she was having difficulty even chewing so he touched her mouth and jaw ever so carefully to help her chew.   I was reminded of the Savior's love and service as I watched these young men stand in the shoes of the Master to provide the life-saving tokens of the Atonement to the "least of these".

Yesterday the ward that was helping seemed to be comprised more of middle age people...in fact I don't think I saw a youth at all.  However, the scenes played out there were just as touching as they have always been.  There was an older gentleman, perhaps in his 60's, that was wheel chair bound.  Another Brother wheeled him to the area that the Aaronic Priesthood sits so that the older gentleman could pass the Sacrament.  At first I didn't think anything of it...but after the prayer was said the scene that unfolded was truly special.  The Brother that was assisting the gentleman in the wheelchair quietly took a foam rubber "dowel" that had a slit in it the length of the dowel and placed it over the handle of the Sacrament tray.  Then he took out a velcro strap and when he had helped the man put the tray in his hand, he wrapped the strap around his hand so that he could secure his grasp around the handle of the tray.  He then pushed the gentleman to each member on his assigned route and then back to the Sacrament table where the whole scene was once again played out in preparation for the passing of the water.  It was truly humbling to see the service of both the Brother in the wheel chair AND the Brother who was assisting him.  Truly the Spirit confirmed the holiness of this sacred ordinance and I have reflected over and over on the kindness, dignity, and charity that was in evidence.

The speaker spoke on the gifts of the season and the gifts of the Spirit...and the gifts that we can give to our Savior and our Father in Heaven.  He suggested that "our life is God's gift to us....  How we live our lives is our gift to God."

Felicia and Dave came up from Provo and they, along with Brian and Lori and Dad and I had chicken fajitas for dinner.  The Dave, Felicia, and I drove up to Temple Square to see the lights.  It was beautiful...and if I knew how I would post a picture from my phone...but we know how well I know how to do that!  LOL

Dad did fairly well with only a few moments of confusion.  One of the most memorable was when he was trying to fill out a tithing slip as he prepared to go to tithing settlement.  He struggled to know the date.  I told him it was the 12th.  But, he just sat there and then said that he didn't know how to write that...I told him but he still had difficulty and so I got up and went to the table and wrote Dec. 12, 2010 and 12-12-2010 and told him that he could use either one.  However, he was having difficulty even knowing where to write it so I pointed to him where the date should go.  As he finished copying it down he said, "isn't it a shame we need to have all those numbers...but I guess that's just what you get when the Federal Gov't gets in the middle of it!"  LOL

As I watched him really struggle and work to make his appointment for tithing settlement, go to the church twice, and face his uncertainty in trying to fill out the slip I marvelled at the goodness of this man who is my father.  He pushed to be able to complete this year and to declare his love for the Lord, despite infirmity or confusion.  What a tremendous example he has been to me.  I don't know why I have been lucky enough, or blessed enough, to have him and Mom be my parents - but I am certainly grateful they are.  I really am like Nephi of old!

Salt Lake

I arrived in Salt Lake last night after having traveled here from Wisconsin by way of Denver.  I stayed at Desi and Mike's for a few days and really enjoyed having time to relax and enjoy their little family.  We went to the rec center and played in the pool, went to Costco and Wal Mart, played with play dough, went to the Mall and looked for makeup and the kids made a bear for Ruby, ate at Red Robin, enjoyed church - especially Mike's lesson, and I even had the opportunity of being with Emily and Mordecai so that Desi and Mike could have a night out together.  It is always so much fun to visit but sadly I had to get on my way....

My trip to Salt Lake went without incident and rather quickly.  I only had yucky weather and roads between Cheyenne and Laramie - but that pass always seems to give me trouble.  I love serius radio - was able to listen to talk radio the entire trip!  The weather was cold - but my heater worked and I also had good cell reception most of the way so that I could talk to Rich and others too. 

Just as I neared Park City I received a call from Mike (my brother) wanting to know if I was on my way...LOL  He told me that he would tell Dad I was about a half hour out and as I drove in Dad was standing outside in the cold, waiting for me.  It was pretty tender.

I wanted to get to Costco for a few things and so I invited Dad to join me and surprisingly he decided to join me.  It was in this venue that I could see the continued onslaught of the Alzheimer's.  In my research of the disease I have learned that visio-spatial capacities are the first signs of the disease and it was in full evidence as Dad tried with all diligence to navigate the cart down the aisles - but he really had difficulty keeping it in the aisle and not hitting the shelves.  He also had great difficulty in opening the freezer doors - most often he was standing in front of them and then tried to open them - he seemed confused about how to move his body so that it would allow him to fully open the door to get to the food.  His gait is perhaps only about 6" - more of a shuffle than a walk - this makes the time it takes to walk an aisle very long and going from one end of the store to another very arduous on him and others around him.  I am not sure what has caused the unusual gait pattern - almost walking on his heels - but I think it may have some bearing in his balance issues.

When we got home he was able to stay engaged in our conversations and seemed to really enjoy the sociality.  However, as the night wore on you could tell that the trip had taken its toll and he was tired.  He fell asleep in his chair and at one point he woke up, stood in the middle of the family room holding a conversation with someone...after a time he turned and saw me and looked kind of sheepish and said, "I must have been talking to that chair."  I don't know if it was confusion, hallucination, or visual difficulties that were at the heart of the matter.

Today I woke early and headed to Mike and Shauna's so that I could go with them to their rec center to work out.  I really enjoyed my time there and it felt so good to be back in the gym.  Afterward I had breakfast with them and then headed home.  I stopped at Derk's to see how he was doing as Dad had told me he had been very ill - but he was on his way for a scope of his stomach.  So I came home but Dad was in his room with the door closed and I thought he might be napping so I went to check in on Lexie.  I had the opportunity to get caught up on their family and to talk politics for a while before I headed back to Dad's. 

I had some lunch and then Dad asked if I would take him to the Credit Union and to the store - so off we went.  We ended up at Wal Mart and Dad decided that he wanted to go in to look for his Orange Crush.  He did pretty well although all the people, aisles, and products seemed a little overwhelming for him.

We came home and watched a little tv and relaxed.  There was one incident that caused me a little concern as Dad wanted to get something that was on the piano in the living room.  We were sitting in the family room.  He stood up, shuffled a few feet and then seemed genuinely confused.  I asked him if he needed anything and he told me that he wanted to go to the piano but he continued to just stand there.  I asked him if he wanted me to get it and he said that he could do it but that he just didn't know where he was.  I tried to clarify so I asked him if he wanted to go to the piano.  He said yes but that he just didn't know where he was so that he could get there.  I pointed to the living room and that seemed to give him some direction and he shuffled on.

In the early eveningI tried to get a hold of Derk - to no avail - so I drove over but no one was home.  I then drove back to Brad and Lexie's and got phone numbers and talked to Julia - the scope revealed a very inflamed stomach and they will do a colonoscopy tomorrow.  I came back to Dad's and Laurie and Brian had supper ready and we enjoyed spending some time just chatting.  I am tired tonight and I know that Rich is too as we both had a late night last night (he was tutoring me on how to send docs back to Felicia - he said it was very painful! LOL).  Hopefully everyone we love has had a great day and will sleep well tonight.