Blind Prophecy

I just got a call from Mom. The results of Dad’s medical tests came back and it’s not good. Apparently, he’s been having heart attacks for years – including at least one “major” heart attack – and he’s lost use of 89% of his heart. Because of his diabetes, the heart attacks have not exhibited the normal symptoms, so he didn’t recognize them for what they were. His “episode” two weekends ago was a heart attack after all.

What this means:
* The whole family is going on a diet. As much as I love my father, we all know that he doesn’t have the willpower to resist the fattening foods in the cupboard. He cannot exercise right now, so weight loss is going to have to be done by diet alone.
* He gets a whole bunch of new anti-cholesterol meds and will be required to keep his blood-sugar levels in check at all times.
* I “get” to quit smoking now. Mom is understandably freaked out and if she catches me smoking again, I may have to find another place to live really quickly.
* The question of whether or not I’m looking for a better paying job is no longer a question. Adding Dad’s new meds to the monthly bills isn’t going to work unless I’m supporting the household more than I have been.
* Dad is visiting the cardiologist next week to determine if he can continue working full time. He might be put on partial disability and told to scale back his work to a part-time schedule (the good thing about this is that he works for the government and has accumulated so much sick and vacation time that this wouldn’t really have a financial impact anytime soon). This might also mean that I get the truck. I’m not sure why, but Mom indicated that Dad might not be allowed to drive much longer.

Adding stress to the mix, Jeannie’s back surgery is likely to happen in the next two or three weeks. She’ll be laid up in bed for a month or two afterward.

Mom opened up like a floodgate on the phone. Dad doesn’t want to talk about it, and doesn’t want anyone to suggest that he’s “dying” in any way, shape or form. Brandon (Joanna’s husband) is adding to the family stress levels by his refusal to cope with the fact that he gave up parental rights for his child with his ex-girlfriend and starting a major fight with anyone who brings it up. Apparently, last weekend, he also made a number of hurtful comments comparing his sex life with this ex to his sex life with my sister.

Yeah, I think my blood pressure has gone up dramatically in the last hour.

Filed under: livejournal by Jere Keys