Dad had a heart attack and stroke on Friday. They actually think the stroke started on Wednesday or Thursday, very mild and escalated on Friday. The doctors have wanted to place a pacemaker and internal def. for some time now but have been unble to do so because of his constant weight gain (fluid from congestive heart failure) and being unstable for surgery.
He is on a ventilator as he is in a chemically induced coma to keep him sedated, therefore they needed to be able to breath for him.
His blood count has come up and the INR levels are ok to proceed with surgery tomorrow. Test have showed that he has lost a significant amount of heart muscle, but his doctor thinks he will pull through. The surgery will include by-pass open heart surgery, placement of a internal def. and pacemaker. They aren't sure exactly how much function he lost or will be able to regain from the stroke, we will just have to wait and see how he is when he wakes up.
My JW brothers have been emotionally supportive and did not know that my mother had not called us (the non-JW children), they were wondering why we had not come to be with them and did not know until I arrived. She lied to them and told them that we couldn't come because of work. They started to question her because they couldn't understand how work would be more important and that's when she finally called. Basically she lied to keep us away!
We all sat down with mom, and to my surprise they actually sided with me and my other 2 brothers, sister who are not JW's. My mom stated that she did not want us there because we may cause a scene about dad not receiving blood! And she didn't feel like being bothered with us disagreeing.
I told her that I would never go against his wishes even if I felt differently. It's his choice and I would respect it weather I agreed or not. She seems very indifferent to my brothers and I (the non-JW's) even requesting that we stay at a hotel (which we are doing anyway).
Anyway, I've spent almost every moment with dad, holding his had and telling him I love him. It's been a very long day and I think I'll try to get some sleep.
Thanks to everyone's concern and good wishes.
nj