Big move

Yesterday my dad was moved from the ICU in Clarendon Memorial Hospital. For those who may not know, he was admitted to the hospital with a perforated intestine from diverticulitis requiring emergency surgery. It was an extremely dangerous situation.  Dr. Carlos Aleja at Clarendon Memorial performed the surgery and in doing so saved my dad's life.

When I arrived on Tuesday, November 24, dad looked terrible and yet those who saw him right after the surgery said he looked much better. Each day since then he has shown visible improvement.  Today, November 30, they moved him from ICU to a regular room on the third floor of the hospital in Manning, SC.  He no longer required the intense support that the ICU offered.  He is doing well and we left him tonight sound asleep.

He has a colostomy.  At this point we don't know if it will be permanent or temporary but my guess is it will be permanent.  He is scheduled to get physical therapy and much of his prognosis depends on how well he responds to that.  He was not walking that well before this happened so we will see how it goes.  He is alert and is beginning to feel his usual self.  The future plans for mom and dad depend on how independent he can become after this insult to his body.  But, having said that his recovery is pretty amazing.  As the surgeon said to him a couple of days after the surgery, "You are a tough old bird."