At the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts
Shortly after helping my dad get into his apartment in San Bruno following his liver transplant, I drove to Eureka to get our dog out of the kennel. I then went to
Redway for around a week and a half of dog/house-sitting, and while there the house somehow had an infestation of house-flies. It was impossible that these flies were coming through any doors or windows, but I was never sure where exactly they were coming from. It was a disgusting
nuisance, but I would rather deal with flies any day over cockroaches. I was keeping count for a while, and I think I killed between eighty and one-hundred flies.
I then drove down to San Bruno to be with my dad since his wife, Jane, had to return to work in Eureka. I was excited to stay with him because I had a huge list of places that I wanted to take him since he had never really spent any time in the Bay Area.
During one of our outings we saw the "largest crane on the West Coast" as it came into San Francisco bay on a ship.
Another time we saw ducks and turtles at Golden Gate Park
Finally, on Monday of last week, my dad was given clearance to go home. He has been there ever since, and is only having to see doctors at Stanford once a month or so.
On Friday We Celebrated His 55th Birthday at Home!
Bullet Sleeping on His Back
On Thursday, February 12th I was busy at work in Carmel when I got a call saying that my dad was on the way to Stanford University Medical Center. A donor had arrived with a liver that the doctors deemed suitable for him. Everyone, including myself, arrived at the hospital around the same time and found out that his transplant would happen around 6AM, the following morning (Friday the 13th!). I, not having a car at the moment, and having driven there in a company car, really didn't have the freedom to stick around so I headed back to Carmel around midnight with 6AM work to look forward to.
Thankfully, the initial word from the doctors after the transplant was that it was a success. This was a huge relief for me, especially because I was stuck far away working, without a car of my own.
My next day off was Monday the 16th, and I anxiously headed to Stanford to pay my dad a visit. The moment I walked in , I was struck with surprise how much healthier his face and skin looked than usual. I could be exaggerating about that, but one thing for sure is that he looked a lot better than the image I had of people a couple days after an organ transplant. Additionally, the nurses and doctors continued to say that he was doing great! Unfortunately, some of the medication he was on induced delirium which made him difficult to be around at times. That was a bit unexpected, so I decided it would be best for he and Jane that I quit my job so we could all be there for eachother.
He was able to move out of the hospital to an apartment, where he currently is. He is his same old self, and the doctors keep assuring that he is great. This has been a hectic, and exciting time in our lives, and we look forward to getting him back home to Humboldt so he and Jane can continue living it up as a newlyweds!
My special card for my dad
Click the card to enlarge it
Between the Friday I saw my dad as he checked in to Stanford's hospital and the following Monday I saw him I was able to put together a very special card. I was able to get many famous actors to wish him well. From the top to bottom there is Lauren Bacall, Clint Eastwood, Billy Boyd, Josh Hutcherson, and Alfred Molina. The later three were always easily approachable. Ms Bacall was reached through her agent/manager, and I had Mr Eastwood's son get his dad to sign the card. In case any of you are reading, thanks so much! My dad LOVES it!
