Post Op

Dad is now in a weird situation. He can swallow solid foods. Therefore it's okay for him to take them orally. However, once the solid foods get to his stomach, they aren't sent on into the intestines. And, if they build up in the stomach, there is no way to suction them out. They can, though, suction out liquids in the stomach. That's what the suction tube is for. He can't take liquids by mouth because they get in his lungs. He can take thickened liquids by mouth. He can have them feed into his stomach through the tube. They started the liquid nutrition in his tube the evening after they were inserted. They also started the new medication that promotes digestion. One or both of them brought on the unsavory phenomenon we call 'Boom Boom'. Yes, the stomach was definitely passing things on into the intestines and beyond. Dad says he wants to come home and have a meal. I told him that even when he does come home, he won't be having meals. This is his future: tiny amounts of food by mouth and nourishment through the tube. That's it. Being home will not change it. When he was in the bathroom after Boom Boom, he cupped his hand and drank from the faucet again. Carmi and I both confronted him on it. He gave me what Laura calls the Death Stare. It's one of his specialties. He does it when he doesn't like what you've said. He closes his mouth and just looks you in the eye. For a long time. Saying nothing. It's meant to intimidate. I said, "Don't look at me like that! You drank from the faucet. Are you trying to kill yourself? Do you want to die?" He held up one crooked index finger, "One time. I only did it one time." "You only had a chance to do it one time, and one time will cause the pneumonia again. Do you want to die?" Death stare again. "Don't stare at me. I haven't done anything wrong. You can't drink out of the faucet. Not even one time." I am my father's parent.