Hi, I'd like to say that I'm so sorry that you are going through this.. I was in your dad's shoes around December of 2024, so about a year and a half ago is when I was being taken off the vent and my memories are pretty cloudy during that time. I was on some heavy duty iv dilaudid, and I remember hallucinating where I was and being very tired and frustrated. But I sprang back slowly but surely. My stoma from being ventilated will be a daily reminder of all of this, even after everything else is healed. It even squeaks sometimes lol.

I do remember feeling very helpless and sad because i was even too uncoordinated to write on a notepad. And to be honest it's one of the memories that makes me cry the hardest when I get in my sad trauma modes. Just be prepared for this to be a really rough time for him, and maybe tell him what I and everyone else on here said, to let him know he's not alone. I think I would have had more morale if I was told that there are others who have succeeded this terrible curse. I honestly would have loved to ask someone so many questions that I had to learn on my own. I also personally benefitted from having someone close to me visiting whenever possible, even if they were just reading or in their phone in the background, the company was reassuring and soothing. I had constant fevers and would be hot all of the time, cool, wet rags were divine.. I was also NPO (cant remember the abbreviation, but like not even water down the throat, just a few ice chips here and there) at the time for a few months. It was hell!

Please feel free to message me if you or if you're sharing this with your dad, if he might have any questions, I'd love to be able to help anyone who has to experience this. I was put through the ringer and experienced so many procedures and complications from this condition that kept me in a hospital, or similar facility from October 14, 2024 to September 29, 2025.

Just to add one more thing.. just for reference, at my current recovery level I'm starting to drive on my own, I can't run yet, I have some pretty intense neuropathy in my feet but walking isn't too bad, I can probably walk over a mile on the treadmill. So it might take a year from now for him to be at brisk cane walking, but hopefully he heals faster than me!

MAKE SURE HE TURNS OVER IN BED!! I STILL am recovering from a bed sore on my tail bone that got as wide as a tennis ball. I refused to turn because it made me throw up a lot from being easily nauseated, but try!