My Dad had been sedated for the past 10 days--since before the election.

[femmedem]

He had cardiac arrest that Sunday, and had been on a respirator and sedated almost constantly.

But today he came off the respirator and out of sedation, and wanted to know what happened. He's not able to talk yet, or even hold a pen. He can only communicate by tracing letters into my mother's hand. "What happened?" he laboriously traced. My mother expained that they'd had to do CPR on him and that he'd been in the hospital all this time.

Then he kept tracing something else. My Mom and my aunt couldn't figure it out. They were getting frustrated. "Can it wait until tomorrow?" They asked him. It could, he nodded, but he looked dejected at the thought. So they kept trying.

W....H....O....W....O...N

Who won?

Who won the election? Yes, that was what he wanted to know.

Obama! And he raised both his fists into the air with a grin.

Edited because I left out a word. I had just gotten off the phone with my Mom and I was a little excited. :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. what a wonderful story

may he make a full and speedy recovery!!

:hug:

[Joe Chi Minh]

132. When we all feel the same, it's sometimes difficult to chose different words!

[my2sense]

2. Wonderful story - I hope he recovers quickly n/t

[VenusRising]

3. That made me tear up.

I wish your dad a speedy recovery. I'm sure he wants to celebrate with the rest of us for more than one reason.

:hug: to you.

[live love laugh]

67. Ditto everything she said. nt

[lizziegrace]

125. I third...

What a party the inauguration will be for your dad.

I'm so happy he's communicating and hope his recovery is quick and complete.

[babylonsister]

4. Wow! I'm glad your relatives understood him; that might help

in his healing. My healing thoughts are headed his way, femmedem, and thanks for sharing this great story.

[femmedem]

37. Thanks, Babylon. I think it will help.

And I think he would have been crushed if McCain had won.

We sure were relieved to know his brain function was good enough to understand that if he'd been in the hospital that long, we'd had an election.

[silverweb]

5. Happy outcome all around!

I'm glad your dad is doing so much better... and that's a GREAT story! :D

[madaboutharry]

6. You made me cry.

He is going to be o.k.

My father had a stroke and died in 1991 right before the election. He hated George Bush I so much and couldn't wait to vote for Clinton. It always made me sad that he didn't make it until election day.

God bless your dad and I wish him a full and speedy recovery.

[femmedem]

27. I wish your Dad was alive not just for Clinton, but for Obama.

He would be so happy now. :hug:

Thank you so much for your kind wishes. And I think you're right--my Dad will be okay. He is a musician, and when they played some jazz he was playing air piano.

[madaboutharry]

34. Thank you for your reply.

Over the past years my mom sometimes would laugh and say: "What if your dad came back and asked what was going on...we would have to tell him that we are at war in Iraq and George Bush is the President!"

He would have loved Barack Obama. Yeah.

Take good care of your dad.

Take ca

[givemebackmycountry]

7. Yeah...me too.

I haven't put my two hands down yet.

[gateley]

8. Aww -- I'm so happy he got the news he wanted to hear!

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. That's wonderful!!

[shaniqua6392]

10. You have an awesome Dad!!

I hope he recovers quickly. Blessings and peace to you and your Dad.

[crispini]

11. Dang!

:kick:

[JimWis]

12. Wow - great story. Thanks for sharing. Hope your Dad has a

full recovery soon.

[kestrel91316]

13. You need to forward this story to the media and Obama's people.

Seriously.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. I agree. Goosebumps. Thank you, and Godspeed to your dad! n/t

[femmedem]

30. Thanks, Kestrel.

Maybe the Obama campaign because it would mean a lot to them. But not the media, I think, because I think Dad just wants to recover in peace.

I hope your practice is going well. I know times are hard for small business owners.

[rebel with a cause]

77. March 2006, I was in the place your father is in

except I had a heart failure instead of a heart attack. When I came out of the drug induced coma, I also could not talk or use my hands. That all had to be relearned but came back quickly. The mind heals quickly, but there may be short term memory lose for a while, I had problems spelling even familiar words. In fact the doctor said it would take me a year to get all of it back. I don't know if my short term memory ever came back completely but I do fairly well. My sister says it is just because of my age, and she has the same problem.;)

I hope he recovers as well as I did and continues to improve with no complications. My best goes out to you and yours. Be patient with your father, he will need it. Sometimes it is scary when you have to start over learning to walk and talk again, and seeming almost like a baby when you deal with others. Understand this and be supportive of him and your mother. Love to you all.

[femmedem]

99. Thank you so much for this information.

I will pass it along to the rest of my family. Right now my Dad can do a bit with his right hand, but his left hand is very weak. And he's already got some of his short term memory: he overheard my Mom telling a nurse she would be by today at 10:00. A couple hours later, when she was leaving, she said she'd be back tomorrow and he flashed his fingers to say "ten."

I'll bet he will be scared when it sinks in how much he might have to relearn. He is smart smart smart--he edits crossword puzzles for a living, so spelling problems would depress him.

But I'm so glad to hear you've made a full recovery. So glad.

[rebel with a cause]

126. Spelling was never my strong point, so that may have had an impact

on how well I remembered that skill after my experience. ;)

It only took me about a week to get my speech and most hand use back. Walking took longer as did some of my other control.

I don't know if your father will have my same reactions or not, but I said some really funny things in the days after the coma. My brain/thoughts were bouncing all over the place. It was due to the mental nightmare I had been in under the drugs, and the idea that I was dying plus a loss of time and control. So don't be surprised if he should be a little different for a few days, and have a good sense of humor, when his ability to speak comes back, if some of the things he says seems odd. My kids would have killed me under regular circumstances for things I said/did that first week, but they just smiled and shook their heads. :eyes: I was kind of displaced/confused those first days and it took a while to get adjusted to the time and place of where I was.

[TahitiNut]

124. Yup. Title it "Obamacillin" ... good for what ails you.

:thumbsup: "Barackacusitation"?

[tekisui]

14. You made me well up again.

Not....gonna.....cry.....:headbang:

Great story, thanks!

[vanderBeth]

15. Great Story. Hope your father feels better.

[midnight]

16. I love your dad's spirit. I hope all is getting better!

[puebloknot]

17. That's a story with heart! Great! nt

[RoyGBiv]

18. That is an awesome story ...

The mind never lets go ... I learned that with Grandma. The body may look frail, but the person is still there and strong as ever.

I'm happy to K&R this.

[az chela]

19. Oh god thats so beautiful,thanks for sharing,it made me cry

HOpe your dad is back on his feet SOON

[City Lights]

20. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your most awesome dad!

:thumbsup:

Hope he's feeling better each day.

[jillan]

22. Give your dad a hug from me.

That made me tear up.

[poverlay]

23. Your Dad rocks! Tell him we're all pulling for him and he needs to get better because President O

needs his vote in 2012!

Get well soon Femmedem's Dad!

[Stevie_66]

98. Best wishes to your dad

for a speedy and full recovery!

[blue neen]

24. What a great story!

I got tears in my eyes. I hope your dad is going to be okay.

[lame54]

25. I hope that's the shot in the arm he needs

[truedelphi]

69. Me too. And it may well be the very thing that helps! n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Fantastic!

Your dad is doubly fortunate: only 2% or so of unexpected cardiac arrest victims live. And, he's getting a great new president!

[femmedem]

97. Wow. I'm glad I didn't know that until now.

Or I would have been even more worried.

He was very very lucky because he and my Mom were out in public when it happened. There was a doctor there and they were able to begin CPR within seconds. He never even turned blue.

[JuniperLea]

28. I'm not crying, I have something in my eye...

:cry:

:patriot:

Go Dad! He's a fighter! Wow... amazing!

[roguevalley]

29. Your dad is wonderful. Tell him a gal in Alaska considers him my new hero and

I am soooooooo sorry about Sarah. Just sayin.

Hugs and good for you all,

RV

[femmedem]

32. You are so sweet.

I remember how kind you were last year when my elderly cat died.

[roguevalley]

51. There is nothing anywhere like family, furry and other. I am glad your pa is doing

better. Hugs, honey.

[Dappleganger]

31. That is so very cool!

I know what it's like to worry about a parent, just lost my mother to her 4th stroke in less than a year's time in August (her first one was Nov. 10). It's great that your dad was cheered up by the good news!

[femmedem]

35. Thank you Dappleganger.

I'm so sorry about your mother. I can't imagine what this past year was like for you. :hug:

[Dappleganger]

43. Thanks.

It's been very hard on my sister and I, but we are grateful for the time we had with her. Mom was only 66, too. All I can say is remember to take care of yourself since you are making so many tough decisions, and just treasure every moment. Expect to make mistakes, but it'll sort itself out later. Good luck!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[RollWithIt]

39. Damn you Grovelbot! Where is your empathy for this fantastic thread!

:-)

[Control-Z]

36. Wow

That's just beautiful to hear. Give your dad a hug from all of us and wishes for a speedy recovery.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

38. Damn it!

your post made me cry.

I certainly hope your dear, sweet Dad is home soon. I hope he got to vote early so he could feel like he too was part of this historical election.

:toast:

[electron_blue]

40. I love this story!!!

I hope your dad gets better quickly.

[Mid_FL_voter]

41. Dayam. That is just too cool

I hope your dad gets to see lots of the positive things Obama will accomplish.

[uppityperson]

42. k&r for hopes he makes a speedy recovery and congratulations.

[trayfoot]

44. Such a wonderful story!!!!!! I wish him the best!

[cui bono]

45. That brought tears to my eyes. Wishing a speedy recovery for your awesome dad.

:hug:

[Lil Missy]

46. Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

47. My dear femmedem!

What a fabulous and wonderful story! I used to work intensive care, and I know those sort of recoveries are rare!

Blessings on you all, and may your Dad know many more years!

:grouphug:

K&R

[femmedem]

49. My Dad was very fortunate in that he and my Mom were out dancing

when he went into cardiac arrest. There was a doctor there and they began performing CPR within seconds, so there was very little oxygen deprivation. If it had happened when they were alone he wouldn't have made it.

His heart started right up when the paramedics got there, and he was breathing okay on his own then, too. He went on the respirator when they brought his body temperature down. And then he went into respiratory failure when they took the respirator out several days later.

I know from your many caring posts that you must have been wonderful in intensive care.

[Fire1]

48. Warms the heart. This put a smile on my face.

[budkin]

50. Awesome story. I'll be rooting for your dad. My dad was in almost the exact position in 2006...

...but unfortunately didn't make it shortly after coming out of sedation when it looked like he might.

[femmedem]

57. I'm so sorry to hear that he didn't make it.

Especially since he was so close. :hug:

[fortyfeetunder]

52. Good vibes for your dad

Glad we all came through for him! :hug:

[dana_b]

53. the best to you and your dad

a full and speedy recovery!

[EffieBlack]

54. Praying for a full recovery for your dad!

[jhain]

55. Thinking of you all!

Have hope.

[Hippo_Tron]

56. I can totally see myself doing exactly what your dad did

After gaining awareness of my surroundings my first question would definitely be who won the election. Your dad rocks and I hope he is doing better.

[hisownpetard]

58. What a wonderful story! I'm so glad you were able to give him the good news.

Let's hope he gets better soon and comes out stronger than before!

Thanks for taking the time to share that with us.

:grouphug:

[sce56]

59. K& 70thR, Best of luck to your Dad and hope he can enjoy the new Administration.

[graywarrior]

60. OMG

That is so beautiful. Send your dad love from me.

[femmedem]

112. Thank you, GrayWarrior

Your post about the world's reaction to Obama's win was beautiful, too.

[graywarrior]

150. Thank you.

Obama gives hope to everyone.

[Raksha]

61. What a wonderful story! Thank you for posting that.

I wish your dad a full and speedy recovery.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

62. My thoughts, prayers, best wishes and positive vibes for the continued recovery of your Dad

He sounds like a wonderful man

[vanboggie]

63. Femmedem, you have one awesome dad!

I'm so glad he's feeling better and the good news cheered him so :)

In 1997, my elderly mom fell on her concrete porch, took a major blow to the head and sustained brain damage. It was touch and go for a few weeks, but she pulled through. Unfortunately she was left with significant memory loss and in her early recovery didn't even recognize me. When she was admitted to a rehab center, they were assessing her and started with the obligatory questions - when is your birthday, what day is this, etc. The nurse then asked my mother who the President was. My mom looked confused and glanced toward me for help. I gave her a hint and said, "He's a good one." My mom thought for a moment and then replied, "Well then he must be a Democrat." I was so proud.

Thank you for reminding me of that great memory of my mom, and best wishes for your dad's speedy recovery!

[femmedem]

100. Thanks for that story!

Your Mom sounds wonderful. :hug:

[illuminaughty]

64. Tears! Thank you for sharing this.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Cali_Democrat]

65. Best story EVER!!!!!!

Just awesome!!!

:D

I hope he makes a full recovery.

[Historic NY]

66. I'm glad he has the spirit!!! Best medicine he could get..Obama wins.

[specimenfred1984]

68. Want to hear a really funny heart attack allegory?

Didn't think so.

[TommyO]

70. Dang blast it, I thought I was done crying over Obama's election

You just brought out a fresh batch of good tears!

[jwirr]

71. That sounds like good news for your dad. He is responding very

well. Hopefully the recovery will continue. Thanks for sharing your story.

[elleng]

72. THANKS for the great story!

Today is my Dad's 95th birthday, and he was certainly restless all day and night of Nov. 4!!!!!

NOW asking about 'leftovers!'

[GreenPartyVoter]

73. Oh man! *hugs*

[Rosa Luxemburg]

74. Give him a big hug!

[beac]

75. K&R for a great story! Hoping your dad is up and about soon and able to

enjoy the Inaugural festivities! :)

[mtnsnake]

76. Beautiful post!

Best wishes to your dad. :thumbsup:

[qanda]

78. This is the best!!!!

I'm so glad you're dad is coming around and I just relived the feeling I had on election night all over again. I pray that news was a healing balm to his soul and his body.

[Dem2theMax]

79. femmedem, my Dad has been where your Dad is right now.

Different sickness, but everything else, WAY too familiar.

I still have some of the paper he 'wrote' on, once he was able to. Now we laugh. Then it was a miracle. How we ever figured out what he was trying to write, I'll never know. Good for your Dad for being persistent. Good for your Dad for having that be the second question he asked!

Please give your Dad a HUGE hug from a daughter who knows what it feels like to sit there, looking at her Dad, willing him to be whole again. I got the biggest smile on my face when I read the part where your Dad two-fisted the air! I bet that Obama medicine will help him to get better faster. :) :) :)

And :hug: to you and all of your family.

[femmedem]

110. Thank you so much, Dem2theMax

I'm smiling right now because it sounds like your Dad has done really well.

The two-fists-in-the-air gesture was especially meaningful, not just because of his enthusiasm but because his left arm is very weak, and that was the most motion he'd made with it.

[Dem2theMax]

131. femmedem, yes, Dad is still here with me. He's getting ready to celebrate his 89th birthday.

It was an uphill battle for him, but with the help of a nagging daughter, :) , he made it. LOL on the nagging daughter.
I think he wanted to kill me more than once!

For your Dad to use his weak arm - GOOD FOR HIM! :) :) :)
Obama medicine. Cures what ails you. AND the country!

I'll be thinking of you and your Dad. You tell him that a LOT of folks are pulling for him to get up and out of that bed before long and get back to enjoying his life! :)

:hug:

[Claire Beth]

80. thanks for sharing this wonderful story

[sonias]

81. I hope your Dad makes a full recovery soon

He's due some more good news.

:applause:


Sonia

[ksimons]

82. that's a stellar story!!!!!!! nt

[Mollis]

83. Good luck to your dad

may he make a speedy recovery :)

[Why Syzygy]

84. omg ..

make me :cry: some more, why don't you... Good for him! So glad to hear he's recovering.

[Eurobabe]

85. Wow, awesome story, hope Dad recovers quickly.

He probably will knowing that Obama is his new President. :grouphug:

[Liberal_in_LA]

86. great story!!

[scytherius]

87. Just AWESOME!!!!!!! Hope he recovers. n.t

n/t

[yodoobo]

88. You should send that to the Obama team

Theres a good chance that they could use it in one of Obama's speeches.

It would be an awesome addition to Obama State of the Union address or Inauguration speech.

Might even get to meet the man himself!

[Granny M]

89. Best wishes to your Dad

for a speedy recovery. He sounds like a real fighter. Blessings to you and the family.

[No Elephants]

90. I've woken up in a hospital on a respirator. I know how he feels. I had to ask the same questions

again and again. Each time I woke up, I had forgotten that I had woken up before, asked the same questions and gotten the answers previously. When the trauma finally wore off, I remembered everything. My point is, don't worry if your Dad asks the same questions again and again. It does not mean his brain is damaged permanently. Time is a great doctor. Meanwhile, I am so glad your Dad pulled through.

[femmedem]

101. Thanks, No Elephants. (love your user name.)

I'm glad you pulled through, too. My Mom doesn't usually read DU but I will have to direct her to this thread and especially to your reply.

[Withywindle]

91. What a great story. I'm sending good thoughts to your dad for a full and quick recovery.

I'm sure the good news helped! (Maybe if he does have temporary short-term memory loss, he'll forget he asked yesterday, and he'll get to hear the good news for the "first time" again.)

:hug:

[truthisfreedom]

92. Incredible. What a tear-jerker!

Thanks!

[Chalfont]

93. Mine too

He's been in the hospital since Sept. Was unconscious for about three weeks, but when he woke up he made sure he got an absentee ballot to vote Obama.

[femmedem]

95. You must have been so happy when he woke up.

He sounds like a wonderful guy, and I hope he will be okay. Welcome to DU. :hug:

[femmedem]

106. Oh Chalfont,

I keep going back to your post and wondering what you're going through with him in the hospital all this time. :grouphug: My heart goes out to you.

[cooolandrew]

94. See Barack Obama saving lives already. Gobama !

[Divine Discontent]

96. this would make a great feel-good story for countdown or rachel

please consider it! thanks for sharing. I love he put his hands up like it just happened (which it did, for him). AWESOME!

God bless his recovery!

[Aloha Spirit]

102. Amazing sotry

[Ganja Ninja]

103. Cool!

[npincus]

104. marvelous!!!!

May your Dad be up and about soon to celebrate! :)

[TuxedoKat]

105. Great Story!

If I were you I'd share it with the Obama Campaign. Glad your dad is doing better. :)

[mnhtnbb]

107. So glad to hear your Dad is improving. What a spirit! Good news is healthy!

[RedLetterRev]

108. Sending you love

and warm, healing energy to pass to your dad and your family. Thanks for sharing a wonderful story! We're all pulling for y'all! :loveya:

K/R of course!!!

[Solomon]

109. Thank you for this story.

Beautiful.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

111. My Republican mother has been sedated SINCE the election...

Hope your dad is on the road to recovery (sort of like the country).

[orleans]

113. wishing all the best to your dad. this is a heartwarming story

really sums up just how important this election was to so many of us

someone suggested sending it to the obama camp and i agree. it is a wonderful story.

[KurtNYC]

114. what a great story -- best wishes for his speedy recovery

[crim son]

115. Tearing up over here.

This election was SO important for SO many reasons! Thank you for your story and may your dad continue to recover quickly and wholly.

[barbtries]

116. that's amazing

tearing up. best to your dad and your whole family, and thank you for sharing this story

[JDwho]

117. Femme, why ya want to make someone cry on their first read of the day?

I'm kidding. Truly touching. I hope your Dad is okay.God bless him and his sweet heart.

[myrna minx]

118. That's amazing

:hug: to your Dad and your family.

[wryter2000]

119. Awww, that's sweet

He'll be even more motivated to recover.

[ZeitGuy]

120. Starting my morning with a smile and in tears.

Thanks for that -- what a beautiful story.

[Neutralator]

121. That's Amazing! Thanks for posting. I wish your father well. (eom)

[smoogatz]

122. God luck to your Dad and your family.

He sounds like a great guy.

On edit: good luck, not God luck. Though that, too, by all means.

[peekaloo]

123. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your Dad.

:-)

[Kajsa]

127. That made me tear up,femmedem.

Your dad sounds like a great man.
:-)

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for him, comfort and strength
for your family.

:) :grouphug:

[mvd]

128. What a touching story!

Best wishes for his continued recovery.

[Dystopian]

129. Beautiful and inspirational....

Thank you for sharing your Dad with us...I'm in tears. Wishing him a speedy recovery, happy that he's doing better....and love the fact that he has joy in his heart because of President Obama!...:hug:


peace~

[byrok]

130. That brought tears to my eyes...

and after hanging out here for a while, I had to register. Can't wait to share that one with my wife. We'll be thinking of you guys.

[CrispyQ]

133. Great story!

Hoping for a speedy recovery for your dear father!

[ailsagirl]

134. All Right!!! That's great-- your dad has his priorities straight!!

:patriot:

[goclark]

135. What a Dad!

How is he now and how is the family?

:hug:

[femmedem]

136. Yeah, he's a good egg.

I'm going to post an update tonight or tomorrow. I'm 1000 miles away him so I'm getting my info from Mom over the phone. But I heard via my sister that yesterday evening he called home to ask how his bird was doing. Which means, I guess, that he's talking now. :bounce: He and my Mom have an African Gray parrot that they raised from infancy. The bird is really bonded to him. One day when Mom came home from the hospital, Bongo the bird said, "Go find Mel." (African grays are real talkers, and they generally know what they're saying.)

[noamnety]

148. He didn't call home directly - sorry for the confusion.

He pointed to letters on a board to communicate with a nurse, and made the nurse call home to ask how the bird is.

The not talking is most likely due to his throat being all sore from having a tube in it so long, and I think he still had a tube going through his nose and down his throat - that might be fixed by today.

[goclark]

155. That made my day! K

[noiretextatique]

137. i hope your dad continues to get better

and i'm glad he had something to celebrate when he woke up.

[Politics_Guy25]

138. Hope he makes a complete recovery and thanks so much for the lovely story

Very touching;)

[lolamio]

139. Your post just made me cry. What a beautiful story. Good thoughts for your dad...

:hug:

[Phx_Dem]

140. OMG. That is such a great story.

I hope your dad is doing well and recovers quickly.

[crickets]

141. Lovely story. My best to your dad for a speedy recovery! -nt

[sellitman]

142. I have over 7000 posts and that is one of the bests posts I have ever read.

Bless your Dad. I wish him a full recovery.

[MarianJack]

143. A quick recovery,...

...and good for him!

[Just-plain-Kathy]

144. Great story. My dad would have been the same way.

I miss him so much. I'll say a prayer for your father's full recovery.

[kleec]

145. Makes your heart smile

and sing. Sending wonderful healing energy his way.:hug:

[Joanne98]

146. Great story. Thanks for sharing.

:cry:

[Ozma]

147. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best personal story of the day!!!!!!!!!! K+R

This is just so WONDERFUL!

For your father, too!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

149. Gee, thanks for making me bawl (jk)

What a wonderful story!

[Zombie2]

151. Speedy recovery....

Thanks for sharring... got me all teary eyed over here.

[Brazenly Liberal]

152. Aw, crap!

Now I'm crying again!

Femmedem, I hope you and your Dad tell that story together for many years to come. It's a wonderful story and your love for him comes through strong and clear in the telling.

[AZBlue]

153. How wonderful!

My thoughts and prayers are with him on his continued and speedy recovery!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

154. Ok...I'm a mess now...

Bless his heart! Here's wishing him a speedy recovery! :hug:

[proud patriot]

156. sending strength to your dad

I'm glad he is on the mend

[Chalfont]

157. What's worse...

What's worse is that I'm too far away to see him. I can't fly back easily.