Monday, December 26, 2011

My Adventure in Houston, and Bringing my Dad Home for Christmas

Hi Everyone!

I hope y'all are enjoying the holidays. It's been a while for me on the blog, I know, but the holidays and my dad's health have definitely had me hopping.

And by hopping, I mean stressing. And by stressing, I mean tearing my hair out, strand by strand, follicle by follicle, until I accumulated enough to knit myself a pair of matching throw pillows for my couch.

Here's a recap:

A couple weeks ago, we landed in Houston because my dad had landed in the ICU there at MD Anderson.

We found him like this:




That picture is deceiving. He's not really giving the "Thumbs up" sign, nor is he saying, "Turn up the gas!" He's actually saying, "Get this contraption off of me, or I will take these thumbs and use them to gouge your eyes out."


He is a very stubborn man. But we needed to get him out of the ICU, in order for him to continue getting his radiation treatment, and get him home for Christmas.


So my mom and my sister and I made a bunch of goals, and stuck them to the television.




If you blow up the picture, you can see that yes, Diet Coke is considered a solid food, and by exercising, we mean cage fighting. We wanted to make the goals as realistic as possible.


The following day, we got to rip off the goal of "Clear chest x-ray," because take a look at that beautiful x-ray on the left.


The one on the right was the day before, and you can tell it is cloudy with fluid. But the one on the left... brilliantly black.


The smiling nurse is Justin. He was very happy to pose for our multitude of pictures, but he drew the line at climbing in the cage with my dad for a fight to the death. He's getting married in a few months, so I understand his hesitation.


A couple days later, we were able to ditch the flattering yellow garb and take my dad for a walk on the observation deck of the hospital, and we got to rip down the goal of "Overcome Vertigo."




Once he was out of the ICU, we made great strides. He even got to wear actual clothes again.

Last week, against all the odds, he was able to continue with his radiation treatments, complete the round, and return home to us just in time for Christmas.

I'd like to take full credit for his recovery, but the honest truth is it was all him. I couldn't have asked for a better present. 

May your own holidays be excellent, and your chest x-rays clear!

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

18 comments:

  1. That's great that your dad spent christmas with you and your family. I'm so glad he's doing much better.

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  2. Thank you Katherine! We are very glad too.

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  3. So how many eyes were gouged before the contraption was removed? I'm guessing 7. Those cage fights have probably taught him the instincts of an eye-gouging wildcat.

    SOOO happy he's home!

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  4. So very happy to hear!
    Wishing you and your family all the best :)

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  5. Yay, Brodi! So glad to hear things went well. I'm sure it was the cage fighting. Having a son do that, that's serious whoop *ss stuff.

    He sure looks good in that picture with presents.

    Happy New Year!

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  6. Robin- You're right. It was seven eyes exactly. :)

    Emily- Thank you and right back atcha!

    Donna- You have a son who cage fights? I thought only superheroes did that stuff! You must be one tough mother. :)

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  7. This is a wonderful post. Excuse me, I think I have something in my eye ...

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  8. Hi Brodi,
    I'm happy your dad is doing so well and that he has the fun-loving support of such a great family. Your signs made me laugh as did the post from your husband while you were gone.
    Hope you ALL have wonderful 2012!

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  9. Sarah- What a coincidence! I've had something in my eye for weeks now.

    Megan- My husband thanks you! He needs a lot of convincing to post on my blog.

    Dorien- Woo Hoo!

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  10. This is a picture by picture Rocky story.
    Dad - down but not out, no sir, not by a longshot, then getting better as each goal is met and finally home for the holidays YAY!!!- though I don't see the pic of the cage fight...I'm sure he'd beat the tar and feathers off of whoever braved that with him.

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  11. I'm so glad to hear that your dad made it home for Christmas! What a stressful period you've had to endure. I can only imagine what you're going through. Here's to many more Christmases and Team Brodi's Dad!

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  12. Awesome! I a super happy for you and your family! I am also glad that you will be blogging again. I sure miss it! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and Best wishes for the next year! Lots of Love!

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  13. Angela- Yes, at 128 pounds, he is a formidable opponent! :) But at least it's all muscle.

    Jenni- Here Here!

    Anne- Lots of Love to you too!

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  14. I'm so glad to hear that your Dad is doing better & made it home in time for Christmas :)

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  15. I’m glad your dad is doing well & made it home for Christmas. What a great gift! A good friend of mine is having a brain tumor (possibly two) removed at MD Anderson later this month. Looks like she’ll be in excellent hands.

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  16. That sounds like just about the best Christmas present a person could ask for. I'm glad he's doing better. He looks to me like a fighter with a team of angels beside him.

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  17. Brod - I read this post during all the Christmas madness but didn't have time to respond. So I'm just getting to it now. Your Dad is a walking, talking, breathing miracle. Seriously. I am amazed. And my Mom said she saw him soon after they came home and he looked wonderful. I swear, you three blonde Ashton women have super powers. I'm convinced you keep using them to keep your Dad on his feet. Prayers still being said for you Dad. And for you during this busy time. Love you Brod.

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