BACK IN THE HOSPITAL:

I went to see my Dad last night at the rehab facility. I sat with him and had him eat some food. He ate what he could but wanted to sleep. His oxygen level was at 96 when I left.

I was contacted at 3:51am saying his oxygen dropped to 88 and was on his way to the ER. They had him on a bipap machine when I arrived with my Mom. I provided information on what’s been going on and then they asked me, “Do we have permission to intubate him if needed?” My heart sank. When I was a hospital chaplain here I was with several families who were asked hard questions like this. My mind went back to COVID days when people were not coming off of those machines. I asked some questions and then told them yes.

He rebounded to the point of that not needing to be an option at this time. The bipap was working. His tests have all come back good. Chest xray didn’t show fluid in or around his lung but we are waiting to hear what the CT found. He still has the flu and has been given two antibiotics so far.

They now have him on just a nasal oxygen to see how he does. He had tried taking the bipap mask off and I told him no. He said “One minute.” I told him no and then got the nurse. Right now the nasal oxygen is working.

There have been two moments with him. I pulled a chair up next to his bed and had my arms on the bed railings. He reached up and grabbed my hand and held it. My mom got tears in her eyes and said, “He wants to hold onto you.” I felt something else break free so to speak. More healing.

After I got the nurse to help with some things, I went back in the room and sat by the bed again. He held his hand up, pointed to himself and then gave a thumbs up. I asked if that meant he was feeling better and he nodded yes and winked.

My mom went for a walk around shift change and came back and said the nurse stopped her and told her she was praying for him. They moved him to a different room in the ER while waiting to be admitted and there was a housekeeping lady outside the room. She ended up coming to the new room while he was in CT and started talking like she knew my parents. She didn’t. She said “You’re mom is just so sweet.” She was drawn to the room. Something is happening spiritually. I sense it and I see it being shown through the hospital staff. Something spiritual has been going on with me for almost two years now. Even though this is hard, I have a peace I wouldn’t have had two years ago or even one year ago.

Please keep praying for healing physically, emotionally and spiritually.