Life Is Full of Surprises

I am very happy to say that my dad survived his aortic valve replacement and is recovering very well.  He amazes me and everyone around him every day.  He is now almost 36 hours shy of post op.   He had a good day other than some side effects from anesthesia and pain medication.    What can I say other than for a man of 85 years old he is my hero.  He told me he is ready to go home and I told him to rest and let the nurses do their job.  Yes, I need my sleep as his heart is beating beautifully and he is probably going to out walk me when he recovers.   He has already been up and in the chair and if it were not for all of the post op tubes and IV's, he probably would have followed the nurses around.  He keeps me smiling and laughing everyday.  If all continues to go well with recovery he will have a new lease on life.  He told me going into surgery to always think positive and today he reminded his nurse that positive thinking will take you places in life.  

Sometimes in life when we experience traumatic things our mind tucks them neatly away to protect us.  Then sometimes something may trigger that traumatic event.  It did not dawn on me yesterday when I saw my dad, that he was taken to a floor in the hospital where my mother passed away.  The nurse told me he was making up stories and was paranoid about something.  After spending seven hours with him today and listening to him tell me to think back in time.  I finally put the pieces together of what he was trying to tell me.  He was reliving the day that my mother died,  as we could see her room from the window of his ICU room.   I reassured him that we would both be alright and that I would be back tomorrow.  It was upsetting for him and I tried to hold myself together, because he was worried that he was going to die there also.  I hope they move him to the step down unit tomorrow.  My family is still traumatized by her death and it was an experience I would never want anyone else to experience.  I hope he sleeps tonight. 

As for me, I was exhausted last night and slept twelve hours.  I woke up in disbelief as I looked at the clock.   I hope I sleep as well tonight.  Life is always full of surprises and the best ones of course are always when we least expect them.  God bless my mother as she watches over my dad.  Sweet dreams !!!

Life is beautiful !!!

Elizabeth:)