October 27 10

When you are sitting in a hospital room and you really aren’t sure what to do and the nurses are giving you the stink eye instead of laughing when you make the Wilford Brimley diabeetus jokes, you do what any loving daughter would do. You go out and buy your dad a 32gb ipad and put all sorts of fun stuff on it like movies and games and apps and ANGRY BIRDS so you he can have something to play with while he hurries up and waits in his bed in the ICU.

Because, really, that’s what we are doing up at St. Joseph’s. Hurrying up and waiting.

Yesterday, my dad had a heart attack. He was home alone and called the 911 and crawled outside to meet the ambulance. Yesterday, he thought he was going to die. Yesterday, I got on a plane.

We know he’s feeling okay because he’s laughing and yelling and complaining about the terrible hospital food and is dreaming of margaritas. BUT, it sort of feels like a false sense of security, because he’s nowhere out of the woods. Now, I don’t understand anything that M. Night Cardiacamalan talked to my dad about..because my dad is an MD and my dad has had three prior myocardial infarctions (I know that one! It means HEART ATTACK) they were talking shop and throwing out acronyms left, right and center. But, it seems that there are several procedures involved. One of these involves them basically recreating a heart attack. FOR REAL. They are going to give my dad another heart attack. And one involves surveying the damage to his heart but the last time he had one of those “procedures” they tore something inside his heart and gave him more damage, so you can imagine how keen he is to have that done again. But, lucky for him it can’t be done until something happens with his blood and something else happens because of the coumadin that he was taking but now he’s not. No, I don’t know what any of that means. But, I do know that his blood sugar levels were too high. Way too high. Like 400 high. And no one is happy about that. He needs a defibrillator. He needs a pacemaker. He needs to go back on insulin.

I am very worried. We are all very worried.

I have to go home tomorrow. I have a family and a job and a conference to speak at and carpools and homework and play practice and hockey and hip hop and playdates. I know in my head that this makes sense. Go home to your family, Ali. Go home and get some real-life hugs from some very special people. Go home until you need to be here. Until the procedures. But, I AM AN ANGRY BIRD. I am an angry bird and I want to effing destroy those stupid pigs my dad’s heart problems.

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  1. Oh Ali!!
    BIG hugs to you and all my thoughts and prayers for your dad’s swift recovery!
    xoxo

    Comment by Christine on October 27, 2010
  2. I love you. You’re all in my thoughts.

    Effing angry birds.

    xoxoxoxoxoxox

    Comment by sam (temptingmama) on October 27, 2010
  3. Best wishes to your dad, Ali. I’ll be thinking of him and you. And for the record, pacemakers are awesome. My grandfather has had one for probably 15 years. He’s 91 and though he’s pretty frail that ticker just just a keeps on tickin’. Things will work out.

    HM

    Comment by Hamlet's Mistress on October 27, 2010
  4. What you need is one of those boomerang birds so you can trick the heart problems into thinking you missed and then BLAMMO! hit from behind.

    Comment by Avitable on October 27, 2010
  5. Thinking of you and your dad and hoping all will be ok.

    XOXO

    Comment by KIm on October 27, 2010
  6. Hope your dad is doing okay, Ali. Wish I could give you one of those much-needed hugs. xo

    Comment by Amy on October 27, 2010
  7. I saw your tweets, but have been offline a bit and didn’t see all of them to know what had happened. Lots of prayers and good thoughts to you, your dad, his doctors, and your family, and hoping for good outcomes.

    Comment by fadkog on October 27, 2010
  8. Ali, my thoughts are with you. I know how heart-wrenching it must be, but I believe you’re doing the right thing. You’re a great daughter and a great mom!

    Comment by Kath on October 27, 2010
  9. Love you!

    Comment by Gav on October 28, 2010
  10. Hoping your Dad improves quickly and is able to have his procedures. I feel for you having to split yourself between two places.

    Comment by Catch the Kids on October 28, 2010
  11. I hope things improve quickly for your dad, and that things can get back to normal for you soon.

    Comment by SciFi Dad on October 28, 2010
  12. oh, babe. sending lot’s of healing thoughts to your dad. the hardest part is the distance because i know you need to be in your city but you want to be where he is. virtual hugs. i want to say, try not to stress.. but i know it’s difficult. so, just remember to breathe. xo

    Comment by bella on October 28, 2010
  13. Awww man, it totally SUCKS when you live far away from your loved ones, and can’t be by their side when they need you. Hang in there. A part of you will be with your Dad even though hundreds of miles stand between you and him.

    Comment by Angela on October 28, 2010
  14. I can’t imagine how hard this all must be for you. I’m so so glad your dad is okay though, and that there are things that can be done for him, and thankfully he knew what was happening and was able to get help asap. Hang in there. Thinking of you all and hoping your dad will be on the mend soon.

    Comment by Kathy on October 28, 2010
  15. One of the things that I’ve always admired about you, Ali, is how completely and selflessly you come to a loved one’s side when they need you. I’ve seen it with Anissa, here with your father, and it shows itself in countless other small ways. I know this must be a tremendous weight on everyone’s shoulders, but I know you have that extra frustration of wanting to take on other’s battles and fix other’s problems. Hang in there. Let us support you while you support them. ::hug:: Your father sounds amazing, and brave, and you’re both lucky to have each other.

    Comment by becca on October 28, 2010
  16. Your and your dad are in my thoughts every second. I’m praying for Steve to get better and get better SOON!

    I wish I could fly up to Toronto right now to hug you and help with carpool and playdates.

    LOVE YOU! HUGS!

    Comment by Kristabella on October 28, 2010
  17. Aww…I’ll keep you in my prayers. I hope that things get better soon.

    Also? If you need some help deciphering all those fancy cardiac words, just let me know. Not only do I work in a big fancy hospital, I worked in a cardiology department for several years.

    *hugs*

    Comment by briya on October 28, 2010
  18. I hope he is doing well. You do remember that your brother in law is a cardiac resident? I am pretty sure he knows enough to explain some of those acronyms to you. Give him a call!

    Comment by sharon on October 28, 2010
  19. Ali:

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Take care,
    Corinne

    Comment by corinne on October 28, 2010
  20. Sending prayers your way.

    Comment by Katie on October 28, 2010
  21. It is so hard when a parent is ill, but add into that the miles, its makes it like 100x worse.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

    ((hugs))

    Comment by DE Heather on October 28, 2010
  22. I’m so sorry you have to go through this again. Hang in there.

    Comment by Tammi Marie on October 28, 2010
  23. aww ((hugs)) Ali ..

    you made MY heart skip beats reading all fo that .. my dad is 84, he also had a heart attack 15 yrs ago (10% of his heart is gone) but so far he is plugging along, also on coumiden (blood thinner .. which is why your dads docs have to wait – to get that drug out of his system). it’s scary scary shit seeing out parents in the hospital. My thoughts are my prayers are with you and that your dad makes a full recovery from this setback.

    Comment by Sarah on October 28, 2010
  24. I’ve never met you or any of your family members, but I’ve stood in the exact same spot you are all in right now twice myself. It’s tough but keep on crackin those jokes.
    Thinking of you.

    Comment by Aeron on October 28, 2010
  25. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I hope your dad gets strong and well soon.

    Comment by hillary on October 28, 2010
  26. Huge hugs Ali.

    I hope your dad gets his heart issues sorted out quickly.

    Comment by Issa on October 28, 2010
  27. very scary I know, but I think going home is best, nothing like kids to help you through this – I’m sorry you have to go through this – I hope everything turns out well for you & your family

    Comment by Maria on October 28, 2010
  28. I’m so sorry about your dad. My SIL just had a pacemaker installed a few days ago. It’s working great and it’s wonderful for family peace of mind. Best wishes on your dad’s health.

    Comment by Laura on October 28, 2010
  29. Hoping all is well with your dad. I am all too familiar with dads and heart attacks.

    Comment by Hockeymandad on October 28, 2010
  30. Big Hugs to you & your family.

    Comment by mommabird2345 on October 28, 2010
  31. He will get better! He will be OK! I know he will! Repeat 25 times every 5 minutes! Hugs sweetie- I truly understand how you are feeling & I hope you take care of yourself & your family. Sometimes when you can’t do anything, you can at least smoke some piggies – I know it makes me feel better.

    Comment by Naomi Jesson on October 29, 2010
  32. I hope your dad is doing better. Big hugs for you and your family.

    Comment by Corey on October 29, 2010
  33. I hate the hospital. I hated being with my dad at the hospital. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I told him it was because he kissed our dog on the mouth. The nurse was NOT AMUSED.

    Love to you and yours.

    Comment by MrsChicken on October 29, 2010
  34. At last! Someone who undesartdns! Thanks for posting!

    Comment by Kaylie on June 1, 2011
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