An update on my dad

Well, i'm at home in NJ now with my family which is better than being in GA. To recap, my dad was totally not acting himself at his visit to GA last week. He was very quiet and slept a lot. He told us he was just tired and nothing was wrong. It was so strange, but on Thurs he starting acting very different and seemed confused and not able to do things that were normal tasks. He was adament nothing was wrong and that we needed to stop asking him.

They left on Friday morning and my mom made him an appt for the doc on Monday. The weekend got worse... he slept a lot and just, again, seemed so different. By monday, he couldn't write his name at the doctors office, was roaming around, and was unable to come up with words that he wanted to say. No sign of a stroke though. They sent him for an MRI Tuesday and it showed no acute problem but they saw some abnormal things on it.

Wednesday am was his neurologist appt. They see some growths on his brain and admitted him to Jefferson University Hospital, one of the best neuro facilities in the area. The specialist neuro is reading the MRI this morning but the other neuro says she has never seen anything like this. They are not sure what is going on.

They do know that these growths are pressing on the language center of his brain (at least one is) which is affecting his speech. He knows what he wants to say, he just can't come up with the words. It's so sad to watch and i know he's embarrassed and frustrated. He doesn't remember things from one minute to the next or what happened yesterday. He still knows all of us, but it's more facts like "what kind of sandwich did you eat?"

Meanwhile, Sam and i took a fast flight home yesterday to be with my mom. I am so thankful she's such a good baby and is okay with pick up and go.... 6 flights before she's 6 months old, not bad! Dave and Gwen are coming in today. They cut a FL vacation short to be here.

It has been so emotional... my mom has watched my dad fall apart from day to day. He just doens't understand what is going on but has finally accepted that there's something wrong.

I know it will all be okay - Nick sent me a picture of a double rainbow last night from a storm in GA and I know that's a good sign. I'm supposed to be here until Sunday but will play it by ear as we get more news.

I'll keep everyone posted but please keep us and my dad, especially, in your thoughts and prayers. My mom is very low on her cell phone minutes so if you call and leave a message she'll call you back. Feel free to call me if you want to check in.

love you all!
kristi