Dad's surgery went well...

Dr. Balint was pleased with how well the surgery went for Dad's hip. Explained to Mom and I that his joint was not rubbing bone on bone... it was completely fused together. No wonder he has been in so much pain!

He also discovered an unexpected problem... Dad's intestine has a small leak in it somewhere and is leaking into the fatty tissue around his middle and hip/back. We will be meeting with yet another doc tomorrow (I'm assuming) to have that addressed ASAP. Although this could cause him to be very ill in time, I believe we have caught it in time to get it fixed.

Dr. Balint was very adamant that there is no cancer anywhere to be seen today. Still, he sent tissue samples to the lab for 100% surity. Thankfully Mom and I asked because that was Dad's first question.

He's resting comfortably now and has even eaten a little dinner.

Update on Dad...

Mom just talked to the attending ortho doc. Because he will be gone this weekend, he has asked his partner to do the surgery this Saturday. His partner just happens to be the doc Dad had (and loved!) for his broken leg. He has come highly recommended by all ortho docs that I have met and we have personally been very pleased with him. He'll be transfered to Memorial Hospital this afternoon and surgery will most likely be on Saturday.

Mom also said that both surgeons have explained that because of this surgery (girddlestone), he will be virtually pain free in the hip. Since this has been the majority of his pain issue since his accident three years ago and it has been increasingly getting worse, I think Aunt Mick was right when she said that this might be a blessing... God is helping Dad avoiding more serious problems.

Dad is suprisingly at peace with all of this happening and doesn't seem the least bit depressed. It seems this spring/summer has been so hard on him physically that his mental state has, for the first time, started to faulter. But that being said, he's already discussing being at the nursing home an additional month, but that it won't be too bad since horse show season will be almost over anyway and he will be able to get back some more strength and mobility.