Monday, June 23, 2008

Spin **updated**

** Seriously, what is wrong with me?? P is correct. It is because of the praying and drinking that everyone is doing. I can't thank you all enough for sticking by me and my internet diary all this time. You all have shown more faith and decency throughout this ordeal than I have. I will always be grateful to each and every one of you. (Now keep reading).

You know how I am always talking about how my dad has leukemia and he is dying and stuff?

Dial into that frequency for a minute.

My dad called yesterday from a hospital in Charlotte, NC. He went to Charlotte because the guy who did his original knee replacement surgery said he would work him into the schedule, even though my dad is supposed to die any time of leukemia. The knee guy looked at my dad's knee and said, "I don't much care if you have leukemia or not. The fake knee is coming out. Right now." My dad agreed to this plan, calling the doctors in his hometown hospital "a bunch of punks" for not having the sack to do the surgery a month ago.*

First thing the next morning, my dad had surgery to remove the bacterially gooed-up fake knee. In place of the knee, there is now nothing. Just a femur, a tibia and a fibula and some connective tissue... just hanging around not being connected to a knee.

Since the surgeon has never done a thing like that before, there was much celebrating this morning when they looked under the cast and saw that the wound had closed and clotted and that the area showed no sign of infection.

Yeeha! Right?

Right. Just go with it.

The doctor now has to figure out what to do next. Option one is to put in a spacer filled with anti-biotics just in case there are lingering bugs in the surrounding tissue. Option two is to let the knee portion of the leg be empty for a bit while IV anti-biotics kick the crap out of the remaining bugs. Then the knee guy would put in a new knee.

Are you following all this?

I am confused, too. But never mind.

The really fun bit of news is that my dad's blood work was all within normal range, which is pretty friggin' unusual for a guy who has leukemia.

Internet people, there is no amount of spin I can put on this that will improve your opinion of me. I know it looks like I lied to you three weeks ago when I said he would die any minute. I swear, I didn't. We have no idea what his bone marrow looks like. He could still have leukemia. But if he does, it's not hanging out in his blood, which is where it likes to hang out when it is busy killing people.

Executive Summary: my dad is light one knee, his blood work looks good, and we are waiting on a treatment plan.

I am going to get off the computer and be embarrassed now. Have a nice day.

* The part about "sack" is all me. My dad would never say a thing like that. He DID say punks, though.

20 comments:

P said...

The only thing I can think of is all the collective drinking and praying going on among your internet peeps in your dad's name. That, or the magic unicorn visited him in his sleep. Whatever it is, I'm glad he's doing well.

Sizzle said...

Don't be embarrassed! This is good news. I'm glad your Dad went to a doctor who had the balls to actually take action. I hope they come up with a plan so your Dad is up and building decks soon.

Grumpy but sweet said...

incredible. and good. :)

Grumpy but sweet said...

btw: will continue to drink and pray.

Catherine said...

Nina! Excellent. Excellentness all around, especially the punks part and the sack part. And the good doc and the healthy blood and the bugs being kicked out of the establishment. Everything. w00t!, as they say on the interwebs. Double w00t, even.

well-intentioned heartbreaker said...

your dad sounds like a fighter - amazing.

and yeah, 'punks' is my dad's favorite word for anyone more than 10 years younger than him, doing something mildly idiotic. :)

Julie said...

This is just so awesome. Dad is still in my prayer list.

Many hugs and much love to you as well.

Evil Twin's Wife said...

I think all the drinking and praying is working. Still thinking of your dad.

LizLSB said...

Drinking and praying right now, as a matter of fact. A dad minus one knee is still a dad.

Anonymous said...

Miracles happen Nina :-). I have said before and I will say again-your dad is my hero. He is so brave and wonderful, you are one lucky woman. Will keep drinking and praying.

Anonymous said...

I can still keep drinking though, right?

:)

Forrest said...

So, when does the cloning begin? Right? They're going to clone him, aren't they? To, you know, improve everything? Seriously, though.

Also, we should really be blaming your dad for making you a liar. I mean, it's not your fault he likes to play a game of scrabble, or twister, or Thermo-Nunclear World War with death every now and again. And win. That's just what he does, I guess. Now he's gonna do it with just ONE KNEE too! Holy crap.

Mrs. Who said...

Great news! Prayin' and drinkin'...works every time.

Daisy said...

It's wonderful news, which cancels out the lying.

:)

Jennifer said...

wooo hoo!!! that is awesome!! :) btw... why be embarassed... this is the BEST thing in the world to have spin around on you and look like you were fibbin'. :)

i will con't to drink and toast and pray for you and your family and most of all for your DAD!! :)

this is a great post!! i'm so happy to hear such awesome news!! :)


best wishes!!
xoxoxo

Megan said...

Prayer, drinking and the fact that your Dad just refuses to give in to those little bastard cancer cells. Go dad!

I'm glad the news is good.

Miss Britt said...

Dude - that is AWESOME! Don't be embarrassed!

sybil law said...

What great news!!!!!
I raise a glass - and a prayer - for/ to your dad, anyway.
Woohooooooo!!!

Maggie said...

the first thing that came to my mind is that, knee or kneeless, your dad is still going to finish the deck and start another project soon. He clearly can do fine with with an abridged set of parts.

Congrats on the good news!

nightfly said...

Please accept my belated WOOT!!1! for the good news! Your Dad kicks more ass with a knee-free leg than most people do all day.