raygutierrez.com Blog

Today is three days after my dad had a T.I.A. (transient ischemic attack) A TIA is a “warning stroke” or “mini-stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4781
Having witnessed the immediate effects on my dad and family, mild was not what I would call it. I guess it could have been worse.

I was driving home from my Saturday morning job at a Channel 11, I get a call from my Dad’s house, nothing unusual, he calls sometimes to see if I want to go eat breakfast with them. I answer, it is my step-mother, in a panicked voice I hear “something is wrong with your father. When are you going to get here?” I say I can be there in about ten minutes and hang up. Something tells me to call back and have her call an ambulance. She does and it gets there in about 3 minutes.

I exit the freeway and there is a train. I think Now what else can go wrong. Fortunately the train is at the end when I get to the intersection. I get to my dad’s house, the paramedics are there, checking him out. He was awake, just kind of out it, mumbling not making sense. My step-mother was worried, panicked. They finish their exam and suggest taking him to St Luke’s or Methodist Hospital for their stroke teams. St Luke’s is full, so they take him to Methodist.

We get to the hospital and they take him in immediately. The nurses and doctors at the hospital took great care of my dad. I am thankful for them and the paramedics from the Houston Fire Department.

After a few anxious hours he slowly comes out of the effects. Today is Monday and I am on my way to the hospital, hopefully he will be getting out today.

One thing I learned from this is to never miss out on a chance to tell someone you love them.

Update: Dad is home, doing well. The doctor is now saying he had a transient global amnesia episode. Doesn’t sound quite as bad, just as scary to witness.