Running Log for Wednesday July 21st

Will update this entry as the day progresses:

9:04 AM: Just received word he's headed for surgery in a few minutes. All vital signs are good. He's in good spirits. He amuses the nursing staff.

10:00 AM: No sign of the OR folks yet.

12:45 PM: Just left the ol' coot as they wheeled him into the operating room. He seems perfectly at ease. The surgeon estimates 3-4 hours in surgery. He will call me upon completion. Dad will spend at least an hour in a recovery room after surgery. So...I will post again when I hear from the surgeon - probably between 4:00 and 5:00 PM ADT. Doubt if I will see dad back in his regular room until 6 PM or so... In the meantime I am going to go have a workout at the Alaska Club and then a bite to eat. The weather has turned pretty decent...even a little sun.

5:09 PM: Just got a call from the surgeon. Dad is out of surgery and everything went well. The doc replaced the stem of the artificial hip appliance - it is now longer and well seated in the bone below the point of the fracture. The doc did NOT have to do any of the more exotic things that were possible - a bone graft or metal plate around the fracture. Dad had general anesthesia and tolerated it well - all his vitals remained stable.

Dad required one unit of blood and will likely require another one tomorrow.

The doc is somewhat concerned about his skin. He had a very large hematoma from the fracture. They have employed a special dressing of which I am unfamiliar. Somehow it maintains suction on the wound and promotes healing. I am curious to see what that looks like...

He also has some breakdown on the skin on his behind - from being in bed the past few days. They have put him on an air bed - whatever that is...again, I'm curious to see it myself.

He is now somewhat awake and says he isn't experiencing much pain...

All things considered, don't know how it could have gone much better. Of course, that is not to say that there can't be serious complications - he is 95 years old.

I am going to stay here until they bring him up from the recovery room. Will post again after I see him. Don't think he's going to be real chatty this evening.

6:44 PM: Dad just arrived back in his room. He's pretty much out-of-it; as one would expect. His color looks pretty good. His wound is wrapped in what looks like plastic wrap and is has an electric motor that puts suction on the area. He's also on a big soft inflatable bed...keeps him from getting pressure sores.

As soon as the nurses get him settled-in, I will depart.

So far so good!