Day 14

Day 13 was not a good day. Dad's mouth started to go full blown with the thrush and the sores - so he was miserable. He slept a lot of the day.

I visited today, Day 14, and he said he actually felt a little better than yesterday. He was watching FIFA Soccer when I was there. He looks tired and just down. Mom said he is down every which way. His spirit, his body, his everything. Mom said it's hard enough on us, but he has no escape from this damn disease. We can leave and block it out some of the time, but he just sits there in that bed day in and day out. The anxiety of the unknown and the uncertainty of what is going on - it just wears on a person.

Today, apparently, Dad asked Mom if it was really just one o'clock? She said that it was. He said that this day was dragging.

So.....my new plea is that if you are able to visit - please do it. This weekend is going to be a slow one up at the hospital due to the holiday, but if you can call just to say Happy 4th of July! Please do it. Dad's number is 314-747-5917 or if you want to call my Mom's cell because you're worried about waking him up - call 314-614-9590.

The problem with an illness is that when you have it for so long, people forget that just plain ol' human contact is the best medicine. Having a line to the outside through someone is a life saver. It does get hard to keep visiting and to keep calling, but it's such an important thing and it's one, I'll admit, in the past, I haven't done as well with either. It's so easy to just say, I did that, I'm done. Well, people, please, send a card, call - whatever - it could be the difference between my Dad and my Mom having a bad day, a good day and a GREAT day.

That's it! I'm off my soap box. Don't quit checking in on us just because I got on my high horse. We still need your prayers and good thoughts!

If it's any consolation - Dad joked that he was voted the Best Patient on the floor. Apparently, housekeeping, the food staff, the nurses all tell him they like visiting him because he smiles and is always pleasant. I guess some people aren't as well mannered on the floor! : ) I told the nurse today that he just saves the good behavior for them - he's never that nice to us! She just laughed!