I have some awful news. My Dad is on life support at the VA hospital and it's unlikely he is going to make it. We are here now. We have tried to call as many people as we can, but it's still an active situation and spending time with Dad.
What Happened?
Dad thought he was coming down with a cold Saturday night. All day yesterday he still felt like he was coming down with something, but was doing fine. We watched the Bucs game together. And eventually he decided to go to bed early around 6pm. He started getting the chills with flu like symptoms, but no fever. We increased the heat and doubled up his blankets. Then all of a sudden he started getting worse around 8pm last night and he wanted to go to the hospital. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary of any other time we went to the hospital. But then he asked Laurie to pray for him. She did, and as Laurie and I were wheeling him down the ramp he was unable to lift his legs. As we were helping him into the car he lost all his strength and passed out. We got him into the seat. I sped off. Dad was breathing heavier & heavier and was unconscious leaning on my right shoulder. I kept pushing on him trying to wake him up while rushing to the ER. (Laurie was driving separately). I was yelling, "Dad! Dad! Wake up!!". Somewhere during the 5 mile drive my Dad got very quiet and stopped breathing... he literally passed away leaning against me while I was driving him to the Emergency Room. I pulled up to the VA ER and ran in for help. The ER staff jumped right into action with chest compressions while Dad was still in the passenger seat... they got him on the stretcher and continued. Laurie had called Traci and she raced to the hospital. When Laurie saw them on top of Dad doing chest compressions she lost it. Just a few hours ago we were just hanging out and thinking maybe he was coming down with a cold... now he was not alive... What in the world just happened?!?! The ER doctor was leveling with us that it didn't look like Dad was going to make it. Traci was still on the way devastated as she was driving to the hospital wondering how bad he was, but knowing they were doing CPR. The staff came in to tell update us. We knew it was going to be the worst, but amazingly they were actually able to bring Dad back to life after 15 minutes of life saving measures. The Comeback Kid had 1 more comeback in him! Traci arrived in time for the good news. But our immediate grief that turned to short-lived joy turned back to great sadness when it became evident that his brain went without oxygen for several minutes and wasn't showing any positive signs of brain activity. They asked how come I didn't call 911. My simple honest answer is that I didn't know he was dying. I would have called in a heartbeat like I have before if I thought for a second he was dying. By the time it became dire I was already enroute to the ER... it didn't seem like they could get to me faster than I could get to them at this point. Carson and Dave rushed from his shark charter to be by Dad. Now we are like, "What in the world just happened?!?!?!" Dad was doing the best he has done in years!! We are in shock and I'm kinda of a mess to be honest from the drive to the ER... it was quite possibly the worst experience of my life, Laurie's life, & my Sister's life... but more importantly it was the probable end of my Dad's life. The first time he passed away (in the car) he went peacefully. He is now on a ventilator and all kinds of machines. His heart is working properly, but there are many indicators that he has significant brain damage. We have no idea what exactly happened last night, but it looks like he may have had a rapid onset of pneumonia and he went downhill quickly and it stopped his heart??? We were up all night. Crushed in many ways as you can imagine. But also happy Dad's suffering is almost over, and his reunion with Mom along with his ultimate healing in the presence of Jesus is about to begin. Laurie prayed with my Dad the salvation prayer a few months ago. We are forever indebted to her!! Traci & I have decided to list Dad as a DNR so barring an absolute miracle and supernatural comeback our Dad - The Tomato Man - will be starting a new tomato garden in heaven very very soon.
He knows so many of the medical staff here... they are doing a fantastic job and they love our Dad!! We brought his special Christmas pens and Traci & Laurie are giving them out to the hospital staff.
We tried calling people to inform them, but have run out of time as we spend time in ICU with Dad.
He is at the Bay Pines VA in SICU Floor #2, Room #2
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