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At Last... Gramps Home in his Own Comfy Chair

Welcome Home Gramps!

A Warm Welcome Home

Over the Scare

Thursday night, while I was downstairs writing my last blog, Mom was helping Dad shower. As he finished bathing, he became nauseous and lost his dinner and what seemed to be most of his liquid intake for the day. Following this his bowels decided to begin working again and he lost even more body fluid. As he got into bed Dad felt very weak and dropped off to sleep just after the nurse attached his heart monitors. (Those little tabs they stick all over your chest when you are in the hospital:))

When the CNA came in a few minutes later, she couldn't waken him. I joined in calling his name and shaking him, mom also hurried over and shook him, but he was not to be aroused. His monitor showed okay oxygen and pulse readings, but the CNA became alarmed when she felt for his pulse and found it very weak. Quickly, she pushed the "All Staff" button, an alarm rang, and within seconds what seemed to be a dozen people rushed into the room with the "Crash Cart." They called his name, dropped his bed, and rushed around doing all those medical emergency team things you see on TV. Mom and I backed over to the corner of the room, mom sat down and I held her hand as we helplessley wathced the drama unfolding before us. As we retreated, I checked the monitor again and the numbers were still in the normal range, I couldn't understand what could be happening.

Looking back, it was surreal, almost as though we were watching this happen to someone else. The medical lingo flew, questions, answers, commands, verifications...and they were getting the paddles ready for difibulation. With all the medical staff surrounding him, we could not see Dad.
Just as true panic began to set in, I heard a gravely voice say,"What are you all doing here?"
Mom didn't here him, so I reassured her that he was awake and talking. The next thing he said was,"Where is my wife? Is she okay?" Mom heard that and holding back tears answered that she was doing alright.

The team continued to read monitors, question, answer, check records, confer, infer and so on. In the end, they ordered blood work, an EKG, IV fluid and decided Dad had a vasovagal response (look it up on wikipedia) and fainted- probably due to the stress of vomiting and dehydration. I also assume the overall stress of the past two weeks contributed to his response.


As the team filtered out of the room, they all offered kind words and encouragement the on call Doctor and Nurse Practitioner stayed to answer questions and offer support. It was just after midnight when Dad fell into a restless sleep. His breathing seemed deep and somewhat labored, and Mom didn't want to leave so she sat in a rocking chair and watched over him until around 3:00 AM. When Dad began to rest more comfortably, Mom consented to go to the hotel to sleep. I drove her downtown and came back to spend the rest of the night here in the room with Dad.


Needless to say, I was relieved when Mark and Megan arrived later in the morning. A social worker came by to talk to us about our "scary night" We continue to be impressed with the quality of care Dad receives here as well as the care and concern shown to us as family members. Jon Huntsman's vision of a warm, caring and professional facility is well realized.

Love to you all- except Dayna K., I'm going to cut off her little typing fingers. This has truly been a group effort. Mom is at the top of Dad's support list. She has done all she can to be here for Dad and to do things at home that Dad normally does. Dennis and Debbie have been troopers, driving Mom back and forth and doing things for her on the home front. Debbie is Mom's best hairdresser and Dennis' sense of humor keeps us all laughing! Jacob spent a night with Dad and he is our source for answers to medical questions. Tim gave us all a reprieve last week and Dad very much appreciated his visit. Nathan was Tim's back up man and we all enjoyed seeing him! Mark and Megan arrived just in time to help us with these last few unexpected days in the hospital. Megan kept Grana company at home and helped her with some chores around the house. Mom and Dad are looking forward to visits from Steve, Ashley and family and from Shelly and her family in the next week or two.

John has been my emotional support and Liz and Matt have helped keep the home fires burning. Matt and Josh have cared for Gramps' yard and cleaned the pond. Aubrey and Emily did some deep cleaning for Grana and Em also collected their mail. I know I have probably forgotten someone, so many have helped. Mom and Dad have appreciated the all the visits, phone calls and cards. All this support helps so very much. We know Mom and Dad will continue to need help through the next few weeks and I'm grateful so many are so willing to be there for them.

Dennis and I were talking about how grateful we are that we do have the time to help. Dennis is retired and I am off for the summer. If this had to happen, the timing couldn't have been better. Tim can take some more time through Family Medical Leave and will be back up when he is needed. How can we feel this is really a service, when Mom and Dad have devoted so much for us. I think we are all just giving back a little of what Mom and Dad, Gramps and Grana have given to us.

A Daughter's Love - For the Love of Lou

Today I want to write a post to honor my mother, Dayna Christine Green Tanner. I happen to have log in access so I can post pictures as my mom sends them to me throughout the days and long nights she has been staying at Huntsman's serving her father, Lou. I hope after this post she won't cut me off!

As I was reading through the posts she has made over the last couple of weeks I noticed that she makes mention of how thankful she is that others, her wonderful family members, Dennis, Debbie, Tim, Mark, my Dad etc. have made sacrifices to be here to help out and serve Gramps and Grana in this time of need. However, she has made no mention of all she has done to serve her father simply "For the Love of Lou."

I called her yesterday after I got the message that Gramps would need to stay a bit longer than expected, due to some complications that made for a very long and stressful night Thursday and into the early hours of Friday morning. Very exhausted and through teary eyes she she told me how thankful she was that Mark made it to Huntsmans when he did Friday morning. She said when he got there she just started crying, she says it is because she was so tired, but I know that it is only partly the truth. Caring for and being worried about Gramps and trying to comfort Grana had exhausted her, and she was thankful for the comforted relief that Mark brought. Now she could go to the hotel that she had checked Grana into at 3 am Friday morning and try to get a few hours of sleep. The peace of mind that Mark was there caring for Gramps and able to spend time helping Grana gain some peace of mind for herself too would allow my mom to get some much needed rest. This is only one night of the many she has spent sleeping at Huntsmans by Gramp's bed side.

My mother, Dayna is a beacon of strength, wonderful example of service and unconditional love. When she said she was sad that she couldn't make it to Kipa's birthday party this morning because she needs to be at the hospital with Gramps I started crying, not because I didn't understand but because she was still thinking of others and very little of herself. I am so thankful to have such an example in my life as my mother, Dayna Christine Green Tanner. I only hope that I honor her name by someday gaining the strength, faith, love and service she unwaveringly shows those around her, especially those she loves. This can be seen in this blog, at Huntsman, in the text messages she sends to update everyone, in every touch, kind word, happy face etc. that she brings to the world, and especially right now "For the Love of Lou."

I love you Gramps! We are all praying for your comfort, safety and healthy recovery and I also pray for your wonderful Daughter each day so that the Lord God can continue bless her so she can have the strength to continue to bless my life.

I LOVE YOU MOM!!! More than words can say...

Muah (big kisses),

Dayna Kathleen Tanner Kauo

No Caption Needed

Awake at Last!

Dad woke up bright and early, a new man! Well at least he is closer to being the same ol' Lou. So far today he has taken several walks, kept down all his food and is actually drinking almost as much liquid as he is supposed to. His doctors say if all stays well, we will be headed home tomorrow. Mark flies in at 6 AM, will meet us here and hopefully we will be on our way home by 9:00 or 10:00.

I think both Mom and Dad are a little wary of care at home, however they will have a nurse come in for a while each day and physical therapy will assess his needs.

I know some of you have tried to comment on the blog and it didn't work. I think it is fixed right now. If you don't have an account, click annonymous then just be sure to add your name at the end of the comment and it should post.

Mom is here beside me and says: Thanks for all your help and for all your prayers. It has been nice to have all my children and grandchildren pray for us, help us and visit and we are looking forward to those who will yet be coming. XOXOXOXOX

Wake-Up Lavell,

Dad slept most of the day. He told the nurse she was probably getting tired of saying his name, as she repeated it often throughout the day in an effort to encourage him to be more active. We were able to convince him to get up for a few walks, and even became a more willing participant toward late afternoon!

Dad lacks any kind of real appetite. he ate breakfast, but couldn't keep it down. After mulling over the dinner menu, he chose to have a chesseburger and so far it has stayed where it needs to be - in his tummy.

We are hoping Dad will be able to go home tomorrow, but unless he can eat and drink more it is unlikely they will let him leave. His lower left lung sounds a bit quiet and so he will be using his little breathing machine thingy more often tonight and trying to raise the bar a little higher each time in order to expland his lungs.

Dad's surgical site looks good and is not painful. His blood pressure varies but has been okay today. All labs show that he is progressing nicely. The nurses think his sleeping is a result of the huge amounts of drugs he has had over the past week, and at his age it just takes longer to process it all out of his system. He is just taking his regular every day medications now and so we hope tomorrow will be a more WAKEFUL day!

Pray that Dad can stay awake more, drink more, hold down his food and have a more postitive attitude toward recovery. We think he's starting to feel a bit depressed. Phone calls and visits are welcome!

Love to all - Dayna