Hospital Report
My Dad, Brian Whitbread, has been unconscious since Wednesday when he suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke in the area of his brain stem.
He was supposed to be dead by yesterday breakfast, but instead, he has just came back to full consciousness, is now awake and speaking with great difficulty, recognising people, moving arms and legs trying to get comfortable. He told my Mum he loves her. It was very moving.
The doctor said, don't get your hopes up, he might get worse again and die any time. The blood in his skull has clotted and may have shrunk, relieving pressure on the brain, but it is still there and might irritate the brain. Normal brain fluid cannot drain away properly while the blood is blocking it, and unless this happens, pressure will increase, which will eventually shut down his motor functions. The position of the bleeding makes intervention impossible.
So, he is still much more likely not to survive this stroke than to survive, but we do at least have him here right now, fully himself, if incredibly battered. They are going to hydrate him and keep him as comfortable as possible, and we are with him. It's tearful sometimes, but everyone feels the privilege to be able to communicate.
Thanks so much to all of you for the sincere good wishes and love - it really means a huge amount.
If you have a God and you can pray for Brian, please do so now.
http://www.stroke.org.uk/information/what_is_a_stroke/index.html
UPDATE: Brian Whitbread born 5th March 1938, died 1st August 2009.
Thanks everyone for your warm messages.
