(Slight) Change of Plan

[ahlam1399]

I'm writing this "air side" at Dulles Airport. So . . . I was supposed to have picked the new girl, G, up about three weeks or so ago now. That hasn't happened.My Dad had a massive heart attack. All of my immediate family (Mum, Dad, brother, his wife and my 2 nieces) live in the U.S. He was really sick. So after much to-ing and fro-ing, my brother decided it would be a good idea for me to come "home" . . . to see Dad, see my Mum, and share a little of the load with him. My Dad's 81. The damage to his heart is pretty severe - immediately after the MI his ejection fraction was 25% - it should be about 65% for a man of his age. It's unlikely he'll get back up to anything higher than 30%, so this is life-changing. He came out of the hospital on Wednesday - I flew home on Saturday. Sunday he didn't look great - Monday he was grey and couldn't breathe. Called the emergency services and back to hospital he went. He definitely has congestive heart failure - Class 3. They're on top of most of his symptoms now with medication (he's on 12 different drugs currently) and he came back out of the hospital on Wednesday. He's stable now and much, much brighter in himself - so I'm flying back to the UK tonight. I think it's dawning on him and my Mum how different their lives will be now - they travel internationally at least twice a year (long haul) and domestically another 2-3 times a year (also long-haul - they fly from the East coast to the West) . . . I think those days are over. However, he is still with us - and we know how to manage everything. It will be extra hard being so far away, but my Mum and brother will keep me informed - I will just find it hard to support her from so far away - she is now effectively his carer. It was very hard to leave them both today - they looked so small as we drove away. Hopefully he'll go from strength to strength and I'll be back before the end of the year. If you are still lucky enough to have your parents in your lives, cherish them. Doesn't matter how flawed they are - we are none of us perfect - they are the only parents you will ever have.P

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