We Interrupt This Blog With: A Family Medical Emergency

* First and foremost, I would sincerely like to thank all of YOU for your kind words, never-ending support, and loving prayers. Also, the jokes have been a fabulous distraction.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you may already know what I am about to say. But, for those of you who don’t follow me, or for those of you who may have missed this particular ‘Status Update’ – Here’s the scoop.

Friday afternoon, just as I was sitting down for lunch with a girlfriend I received a phone call from my son. He told me that my grandfather, Poppa Sye, had fallen down. And even though my mother was with him, she was scared, so could I please come home. Without any hesitation I raced to my house only to find my mother lying on the kitchen floor next Poppa Sye. He was shaking as though he was having some kind of seizure. My mother looked terrified while stroking his head and saying, “It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

I immediately grabbed the phone and dialed 911. I informed them Poppa Sye appeared to be having a stroke and to please hurry. Much to my surprise, they showed up within fifteen minuets. And then every thing happened so quickly as if we were in a movie and someone pressed fast-forward.

Luckily we had a list of my grandfather’s medications along with his ‘Living Will’ conveniently hanging on the refrigerator. Which came in very handy while being questioned by the EMT. They were absolutely wonderful with Poppa Sye. Truly. I could not have asked for a better team. Once they put him in the ambulance, my mother and I followed them to the hospital.

Inside the hospital a million different doctors came into the room asking a million different questions. Poppa Sye answered them to the best of his ability. But, considering half of his face was drooping, most of his words were slurred. They took Poppa Sye in and out of the room for cat-scans and x-rays to make sure none of his bones were broken from the fall. Thankfully, he did NOT break any bones. And taking into account how frail he is – that is nothing short of a miracle.

The doctors cleared out after Poppa Sye was hooked up to all kinds of machines monitoring all kinds of things. And then something happened that I will never forget.

My mother was sitting next to him and he started twitching involuntary, badly. She grabbed his hand and he squeezed it with all of his might. He opened his left eye and I could see it bouncing back and forth, violently. My mother said, “It’s okay, daddy. I’m right here.” And he very slowly replied like he was speaking in cursive, “I don’t know what’s going to happen next. But I am staying HERE with YOU.” I didn’t want my mother to see my cry, so I exited the room to collect myself. When I came back, he was kissing her hand. I never saw my grandfather kiss his daughter like that.

We wrapped him up like a burrito with the blanket I brought from our house. His black and blue hands were ice cold. And then we just sat with him until he fell asleep. By the time my brother made it to the hospital from Pennsylvania Poppa Sye was out cold.

My father entertained us while trying to learn how to send a photo as a text message. And I kid you not it took him at least 45 minutes. But that’s another story entirely. After a few hours of doing absolutely nothing other than listening to blips and beeps on monitors, my parents told my brother and I to go back home.

When I left my parents at the hospital Poppa Sye was still sleeping. They came home a few hours later and told me he was the same as when I had left.

Saturday morning, my parents went back to the hospital. Poppa Sye was semi-responsive to commands (lift your right arm) but he still couldn’t open his eyes, or speak. But when they went back to the hospital Saturday afternoon, he was not so responsive to commands. He wouldn’t squeeze anyone’s hands. He wouldn’t move any body parts. He won’t open his eyes or speak. It’s as if he’s in a very deep sleep. But you can’t wake him up. However the doctors said he’s NOT in a coma. So I don’t know WHAT this is.

Later that evening, my father and I headed back to the hospital. Looking at him laying in the bed so helpless and lifeless, broke my heart into a thousand pieces. We tried to talking to him, but he didn’t answer. He was flailing around like you do when you’re having a bad dream and the cozy blanket slid down off his shoulders. My father went over to cover him back up.

“Sye, are you cold?” My father shouted.

And then, I could literally see Poppa Sye struggling to speak. He turned his head and the words, “A little” floated out of his mouth like a small child singing a song.

I sprung up from my chair and raced over to him. “Poppa Sye, do you know that we love you?” He nodded yes.

My father told him he was in the hospital, that he was safe, and that people were taking good care of him. And then he faded right back into unconsciousness.

As of right now, We don’t know how long he’s going to be in the hospital. We don’t know if he had a stroke or if it was some kind of seizure. They are still running tests. And I don’t know if he will recover because we do not have a prognosis at this time. It’s way too soon to tell.

But, I do know one thing. I know that Poppa Sye is a fighter and one stubborn SOB.

Even at 91 years old he will not simply give up.

*The photo above was taken in the summer of 2009. And no, that’s not Sye’s motorcycle.

I don’t know when I will be available online. And I don’t know when I’ll be able to answer emails, phone calls, or text messages. Everything in my world has come to a screeching halt. All I can do is wait. And I don’t do ‘waiting’ very well. I’ve been pacing around my house [and hospital hallways] cleaning everything in sight. Seriously. I even Windexed our washer and dryer. Inside and out.

For a split second, I expected to see Poppa Sye walking down the hallway with a fist full of mail, huge yellow glasses, suspenders, handkerchief, and metal cane. Until I remembered he’s in the hospital. And suddenly I realized my house feels extremely different without him in it.

So, I am going to ask all of you for a favor. Please keep us in your prayers. And please keep sending funny jokes. Because even if I can’t respond, know that I am reading them.

And laughter is essential right now.

* The photo above was taken at the DeSordi Family BBQ, on August 2007 

I will be in the hospital today, tomorrow, and for how ever many days Poppa Sye is there. But I will try my very best to update Facebook as often as I can.

Thanks again, everyone.

I am blessed to have such an amazing circle of friends.

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UPDATE 12/7/2011
We just received The Phone Call. It’s time to make Poppa Sye ‘As Comfortable As Possible.’ Helping my mother make the arrangements for Hospice to bring him home.

UPDATE 12/9/2011
Hospital Bed Delivered [x] Medical Supplies & Machines Hooked Up [x] Oxygen Tank Warnings on Front Door [x] Hospice People On The Way [x] Poppa Sye arrived home via ambulance [x] Feeling sick to my stomach [x]

UPDATE 12/12/2011
Poppa Sye is still hanging in. Although, now it’s really only a matter of time.