Yet More Hospital Fun

[TimTwoFace]

Last night (Monday), I returned home late from classes and logged onto Toonzone as usual. Same ol', same ol'. Check out a few posts, chat it up on AIM, etc, all with cheesy talk shows on TV in the background.

Then about thirty minutes later my dad comes out of bed and tells me he needs me to drive him to the hospital. I drop everything and do so, of course. Apparently he's having chest pains and needs helps immediately; 20 minutes later we're at the hospital and about 30 minutes after that, he's given a bed to stay in for the night. I return home, worried sick, for many reasons:

1) I've never dealt with this stuff before. Seriously. The only times people in my family have gone to the hospital are for births, routine check-ups, and stitches. I've never dealt with heart conditions before - and my dad's dad died of a heart attack at a relatively early age (mid 60's). Even though I'm sure this is nothing big, I can't help but worry.

2) My mom is out of the country at the moment. She's with my aunt and my grandma (her mom and sister) on a week-long trip to Cuba. She won't know about this big ordeal until she comes home, most likely.

3) With both parents out of the house, that means I, the eldest child, has to hold down the fort for the next week. This is on top of juggling my work schedule and night classes. Of course I'm most worried about the condition of my father, but I'm also concerned on whether I'll be able to keep this house in order with both of parents away.

In a sense, I guess this will prove whether I'm mature enough to handle this situation or not. Here's hoping.

And I'm praying for my father, too. *CROSSES FINGERS* Here's hoping everything turns out all right.

-Tim

[jeffrey 228]

I'm sorry if your dad is having this problem, and hope he will be ok when he gets back on his feet, and our prayers go out to him Tim.

[Outlander00]

I hope your father gets better, bro...

Youre getting a taste of what it is to be a head of the house hold... Its scary, I'm sure, but you can pull through it :)

[Rune]

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad Tim, my father suffered a heart attack last autumn and so I have some idea of how you feel right now, kind of like the the rug's suddenly been pulled from under your feet. I know it sounds obvious and maybe even downright stupid but look after yourself too and try not to screw yourself up, your dad's in the best place right now where his condition can be monitored and stabilised. and in your mom's absence don't be afraid to ask the doctors for as much information as you want nor be intimidated by them, you deserve to be informed for your own peace of mind so that you in turn can save your mom a lot of stress by being fully informed when she gets back.

I know I don't exactly know you as I've not been here at TZ long but I really do feel that you're going to do just fine as head of the house over the next few days, you strike me as being mature, responsible and level headed. Take each day as it comes and you'll get through it fine (hugs)

Your dad is in my thoughts

[Reed Richards]

sorry bout your dad-- its tough taking care of someone whose sick like that. Its good you had the presence of mind not to freak out when he asked you to take him to the hospital. i know people that would have gone nuts.



ps. think your mom could pick me up a box of cigars while shes down there ? ;P

[Kylewayne]

Sorry to hear about your dad Tim. I hope he gets well soon and that it's nothing major. I know you can handle everything at home and work. You are after all mature enough to handle things. If you ever need to vent or talk you know how to reach me.

Take care, *hug*

~KW~

[Jade_GL]

I hope everything turns out well, Tim. Your family is in my thoughts, I know how hard having a parent in the hospital can be.

My father has been in the hospital twice for heart problems, the final time he had to have triple bypass surgery. My mother was just recently in the hospital because she had a small stroke. It's absolutely scary and terrifying to have to deal with that type of event, and I just hope that everything turns out well.

Good luck and I'm thinking about you and your family.

[Amano Ginji]

I'll be praying for your family.

Hope your dad gets to feeling better.

:)

[Zach Logan]

Hope your dad gets better :(

[Weatherman]

I'm very sorry to hear that your dad had to be hospitalized. Here's hoping it's a swift recovery, And hey, at leats you got him there fast, so it sounds like it will be ok.

[Failure]

I hope your dad's condition isn't too serious. Hope he gets well soon.

And I'm sure you'll do a bang-up job holding the household together for the next week.

Take care Tim.

[Barb Gordon]

Chest pains, sounds like some heart attack of some sort. Really good your dad had the sense of mind amid pain to grab you to take him to the hospital. Any idea what's wrong with him yet? Hope everything turns out all right, and since you can never get enough *hugs*

~Barb

[Karkull]

Good luck, buddy. Whatever it is, at least he alerted you to it as soon as possible, so there's a better chance of finding out what's going on before it got potentially worse.

[Magentabeams]

I am glad you got him to the hositpal. Driving and worrying, don't mix well. So, I am very glad you made it home safely. I am glad you dad alerted you of his condition. You should be pround of yourself you in a way may of save his life.

Sarahanne

PS- I hope he gets well soon. And I wish your family best of luck dealing with this.

[The Guitar Slayer]

Best of luck, Tim. My dad was a wreck when he found out my grandfather was having chest pains last year. Turned out that 3 of my grandfather's were clogged up 90%. He's doing perfectly fine and has a cute heart shaped pillow as a souvenir in his living room. My father is ready to strangle him, though, considering the fact that my grandfather has mowed the lawn (on the side of a steep hill) and has shoveled the snow off the roof of his place in Upstate NY since the surgery...and he'll be 81 or 82 this fall. If medical science can do something for my octogenarian grandfather, it can probably help your dad. You did the right thing and got him to the hospital at the first sign of it.

Have fun playing boss while it lasts. :)

[TimTwoFace]

I think we dodged the bullet here. My dad returned home this morning - really early - by taxi - and damn, waking up at 5am to a repeatedly-rung doorbell is pretty scary. Anyway, it turns out that the doctors found nothing, and the chest pains were just due to stress. Thank God it was nothing more serious.

What's scary is that I occasionally get the same thing - sharp stabbing pains in my chest when I breathe. It happens like once a month, and only for a few seconds when it happens. Even so, damn - I don't want to have heart problems when I get older. I hope this isn't hereditary - and that my dad doesn't have anything serious to begin with.

*HUGS TO ALL* Thanks for all the kind words, everyone - I'm sure it has helped. If nothing else, it made me feel loved; you guys are the best, ya know dat? *NOOGIES TO ALL*

-Tim

[Rune]

I'm so glad to hear he's okay Tim, it must be a great relief to you both :)

Those pains of yours sound similar to ones I used to get when I was 18/19 they'd come out of the blue and stab as you took a deep breath. My doc said they were nothing to worry about and probably caused by stress and they disappeared in a year or so. If you're concerned then get it checked by your own doc then at least that way you won't be eating away at yourself worrying about the unknown.

Take good care :)

[jeffrey 228]

Same here TinTwoFace, glad to help in caring.

[M'ral]

Sorry I'm a little late with this, Tim, but I'm breathing a sigh of relief along with everybody else. I'm so glad your dad's okay. And since you're here talking to us, I'm assuming that your household didn't fall apart in your parents' absence...I knew you could do it. :)

About those stress-related chest pains you mentioned, I get them too, and I know a few other people who do...apparently they're not uncommon. So don't worry about it.

Anyway, I'm glad everything's okay now. Just remember, you're a tough guy...whatever happens, you'll get through it. We all have faith in you. :)