In an hour we are heading out for our Thanksgiving Dinner without the Patriarch Bill. He will remain hospitalized at least a couple more days. All of us will do our best to keep the atmosphere joyous for the kids but I am certain most of us will have an aching for who isn't there. Who may well not be there for another Thanksgiving.
The doctor, an hour ago, gave him and Bev an update. The heart has much infection and he said there are two choices. One: With the pic line in his neck he must go to a rehab and stay for 6 weeks (Bill couldn't stay in the hospital overnight without Bev) and then remain on antibiotics for the rest of his life which he figures to be about one year. Two: This Tuesday they could remove his defibrillator which is covered with the infection and replace it with a new one, but could not guarantee he would survive the surgery in this condition. Bill thinks there is another option. Three: He wants them to remove the device and not implant a new one believing he would have a better short term quality of life than a prolonged one with so much attached to it.
Tomorrow, Bob and his sister will go meet with them at the hospital and hopefully come up with a decision as time is of the essence. My heart goes out to all of them. He is a retired lifetime truck driver who made many difficult long hauls and experienced so many stories we love to hear. We want him to stay. We want more from him and for him.
God Bless you all - prayers for Bill's speedy recovery.
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