to hell and back - emotionally

Monday:
Took the day off sick with a killer migraine. Around 4, get a call from mom telling me to find my sister; we need to get to Toronto because dad's being transported there in an ambulance. "He's got a bleeder and may need surgery tonight" Find sister, call mom back to ask what the hell a bleeder is, grab some fast food and head into the foggy traffic. Migraine quickly disappeared when mom explained that the bleeder was on dad's brain. wtf. By the time we started to find things out, it was late - 12am late. We didn't get home until 4am that day. Felt like 3 days.

Tuesday:
Dad's scheduled for surgery in the morning to drain the blood that's putting pressure on his brain. We're justly freaked out. We're talking the brain here. What if the pressure is relieved but there's damage. What if he's paralyzed. What if his personality is altered. What if he dies. Mom and sister are emotional disasters and I need to hold the family together. I'm terrified.
By the time we arrived (on 3.5 hours sleep) he's had his surgery and first words are 'finally you're here!' Guess personality is fine...lol. He's got a tourquoise gauze turbin on his head and there's a tube sticking out of it draining his head of blood (barf). But he's ok so far. Not sure how the left side's doing (was pretty much paralyzed on Monday), but he's looking much better. We spend the day visiting, thanking any and all gods for his life, his health and speedy recovery.

Wednesday:
post-op CAT scan was done and it was clear - no more bleeding. Tube is taken out of his head. Physiotherapist comes along and does some tests. He's up and walking around. Everyone is damn surprised! Who has a stroke, is paralyzed on one side, has brain surgery, and is walking the next day? Oh, that's my dad. Seriously, we were (and still are) beside ourselves. Rumour from the doctors and nurses is that if he keeps improving, he might come home tomorrow.

Thursday:
We arrive right at 11am (visiting hours start) and he has yet to see his Dr. So we're not sure if he's able to come home. We do a couple laps of the ward and then hang out a bit. Just as his gross-smelling hospital lunch is arriving, a team of docs come in to give him his final list of rules before discharging him. We were home by 4pm! Mom buzzed his hair off and then he slept for 5 hours. He's looking great and walking around wonderfully. We're incredibly lucky and thankful and beside ourselves.

What a freaking week. Waaaay down in emotions to waaaay up in just a few short days. We almost lost him, but were blessed. I'm thankful....and exhausted. I didn't feel like it was his time to go, but my mom was more terrified that it was than I've ever imagined she could be. Seriously...what a week.