The docs stabilized my Pop-Pop last night, briefly, by giving him a clot-busting drug to open up his heart valves. He was transferred to ICU and placed under observation, where his blood pressure rose to 120/60. We even managed to watch "Survivor" -- our Thursday night tradition -- before he wanted some sleep.
And then the clot-buster wore off and his valves started closing again. He was rushed to the cardiology center 45 minutes away, where they ran a catheter up his leg and sent dye to his heart. They discovered that his right valves were 98% blocked, and there were some less severe blockages on the left side of the heart as well. They then sent a baloon into the areas, to expand them, and put in stints to keep them wide open. I believe a temporary pace-maker was put on him as well...
At this point, he's in good spirits, I am told. Wanting his false teeth and glasses so he can eat his lunch.
My parents are staying with him while I keep my grandmother, an Alzheimer's patient, from going crazy without him. She's disoriented by the fact he's not here. So I lay down with her last night until she fell asleep, then slept in my grandfather's chair in the living room. I'll be doing that for a few nights...
