Home again

Thanks to all of you, sincerely, for your kindly thoughts and prayers. (There's something to be said for the fellowship kindred minds, be it on the Internet.) I made it out to Iowa and back without incident, avoiding blizzards in both directions. I had two great days with my father (pictured left, in 1942, at age 25), spending nearly the whole of each day with him. As things turn out, he's got a much stronger heart than suspected, and it looks like he'll be hanging on for some time. In fact, although the symptoms are nearly identical, the diagnosis of congestive heart failure appears to have been misplaced. Without going into detail, the problem appears to be aspirated pneumonia, which produces a buildup of congestive fluid in the lungs, etc. But this can be treated, which means that his condition is not immediately critical, though still serious.

My father is very weak. He has an arthritic conditio called Ankylosing Spondylitis that has fused together the bones of his vertibra, making it nearly impossible to dress himself, etc. He also has a great deal of trouble eating, and can do so only with much coughing for which there is no treatment. He now has to have everything puréed. Still, although he has lost almost entirely his sense of smell, he has a good appetite, and, believe it or not, looks forward eagerly to certain things when he wakes up each day -- talking with his wife, family and friends and visitors who may stop by, and reading his Bible, or getting a bath. Such are the joys of a man born in the year of the Bolshevik Revolution who is coming up on his 91st birthday in March, if he makes it that far.

Thank you for your prayers.

Today I go looking to buy a "pre-owned" car.