Just got back from visitng dad in ICU where he lays after his external cartoid artery surgery - we had some hope since he did not bleed after they removed the packing but now they are saying that the neck wound is not healing due to radiation damage and this wound is communicating with the trachea incision they made for the ventilator so its a matter of time that it will break down. He is off the ventilator and breathing with the trach cuff; heart, kidneys, lungs are great; on many pain meds so it was hard to catch him in alert moments but I did and i know he heard me for he sobbed - very sad and heartbreaking for me to see him like this; we are headed toward palliative care in the same hospital. I hope he is reaching some peace and pain free but not sure how much time he has in this earth - god bless him

Dawn, you and your Dad are in my thoughts and prayers. So sorry he is having such a difficult road. I just can't imagine going though the OC treatment hell at 85 years of age. Bless his soul.
D

thnx - by some miracle - dad has woken up and is trying to talk and wants to eat, sit up, etc... The Dr's are going to see if they can do something with his trach hole to help him be able to talk. His leg muscles are pretty atrophied so he is too weak to try and sit up.. his neck wound is cledding a bit so one day at a time

WOW What a fighter!! God Bless

Your father is one tough patient. Hopefully he has some good days. Best wishes with everything you both are going thru.