Ron Lahrmer

Dad's story started a couple of weeks ago with gallbladder stones/sludge, low back pain, feelings of a pulled muscle and way too many muscle relaxers. I don't think he has really felt well since the beginning of January or the end of December but not bad enough to go to the doctor until he couldn't tolerate it (or Paula made him.) 


As I sit here at OSU in a daze of disbelief and denial, I can't help to think that no one is ever prepared to deal with the surprising health issues of our parents. Especially when you have only seen your dad sick a few times. The time that is most predominant in my memory is when he had poison ivy in his eyes from cutting down the old rotting pear tree from the back yard. 

I had always said that one day he would end up in the hospital because he fell off the roof or out of a tree.  I did not expect to be told that my dad was having a heart attack or a stroke nor was I prepared to see him like this. For the past two days, I have been sending out updates without actually really processing who I was talking to or what I had said. I did have a really good idea for a web page or an app to be able to post updates and share his story in a private and discrete way - unfortunately, someone had already thought beat me to it. 


I am creating this blog/page as a way to be able to communicate with more people on a consistent basis, create a health history for my family, document his progress through his recovery and as a way for me to process my feelings.  And not to mention, be able to coordinate with family members if assistance is needed.