Update on my dad

My dad did really great with his surgery. The surgeons were able to place a stent in his carotid artery and we are so thankful for that. In fact, he was able to go home today! He is resting and just taking it easy for awhile. After the surgery a nurse came and got us so we could see him and speak with the dr. The dr told us that the blockage was major, 95% blockage to be exact. He is very lucky. My mom ask him how far my dad was from a major stroke. The dr said he couldn't say for sure but if he had to guess he would say not very far, probably a matter of weeks or months. He said that is really hard to guess. We are thankful for the wonderful doctors and hospitals we are blessed with here in America.

I am going to get on my "political" soapbox for a minute. My mom was commenting to the dr about how much medicine has changed as this procedure wasn't around a few years ago and she said "no telling what will be available in the future". My dad's dr said that lots could be done in the future as long as we keep the government out of medicine aka "socialized medicine". He told my mom that if we lived in a country were medicine was socialized my dad wouldn't have been able to have the surgery b/c of his age. They (countries who practice socialized medicine) have a cut-off for major types of procedures. My dad isn't old by any means...he is only 73! My dad would have been treated with medication (that he was already taking and that wasn't working) and sent home. That makes me sad, angry and scared. To think that if we live in Canada by dad would have been sent home to die! I am so proud that we live here in America and pray that we don't ever have to deal with socialized medicine. I try not to get political b/c I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but couldn't help but share this. I don't know how many of you knew much about socialized medicine but I didn't know much and I certainly didn't know that. Sorry if I offended anyone w/ that post but I like I said I just had to share that. Thanks for all the prayers for him. I appreciate them so much. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful friends :)