Carlos’s Story

Site created on January 1, 2020

I decided it was time to use CaringBridge to keep family and friends updated about the health of my dad, Carlos.  Those closest to him knows what's going on, but now it's time to keep people updated  this way.  His closest family members, including those in Mexico, will be given more direct information first at times.  


Dad has been in Congestive Heart Failure for years and his kidneys have not been well for some time.  Everything had been relatively stable for the last few years,  with some slowing down as he ages.  Recently  walking became more tiring and he started complaining of being out of breath.  I would check his oxygen level at home at it was fine.  Eventually he needed so much help just walking to the bathroom and even dressing that we knew it was time to go to the hospital.  


He was admitted to the hospital.  His body was in cardiogenic shock, though he did not have a heart attack.  Basically with his congestive heart failure his heart has gotten weak to the point it is not pumping enough blood to meet his body's needs.  This began impacting his also delicate kidneys and so his urine production slowed down significantly which also led to water retention in his legs primarily.  They gave him medicine to bring his blood pressure into the normal range, but that can only be used temporarily, and they had to slowly give him his diuretics, because they also lower his blood pressure.  Doctors were looking at that point his kidneys could recover, and his blood pressure was stabilized.   He was released to transitional care for physical therapy to strengthen him back again so he go home. 


He started off well with therapy and were thinking it would be about a week before he'd be strong enough to go home.  His weight was going up again, and not from food but rather he was retaining more water again.  That also made it more difficult to walk and move.  He was getting weaker.  Also his urine output continued to decease even more.  It got to the point that he came back into the hospital.  Basically at this point his heart is too weak to pump the blood properly to where it meets his body's needs(blood pressure still gets too low) and the kidneys are failing.  Dialysis is out of the question because it will take his already low blood pressure to an
 extremely low level.

At this point as a family we talked and are leaning to see what makes dad more comfortable and bringing him home and giving him what he needs there.  At this point we have to figure out how may sister and can do all this for my dad.  Mom was able to be at home and my dad deserves that as well.  


As many of you know our family has been through a lot lately.  We continue to rely on our faith and put this in God's hand.  Please keep my dad and all of us in your prayers.


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He decidido usar CaringBridge para mantener información sobre el salud de mi papá, Carlos.  Los cercanos ya saben lo que esta pasando.  Los mas cercanos de la familia, incluyendo los en Mexico,  a veces van a recibir noticias mas directo.


Mi papa ya tiene muchos años con insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva y mal también de sus riñones.  Ha estado estable con todo pero pasando los años ha estado poco a poco mas lento con las cosas.  Ultimamente se empezó a cansar muchisimo mas que sentía como que le faltaba aire, pero su nivel de oxigeno estaba bien.  Llego a un punto que necesitaba ayuda para cambiarse y llegar al baño.  Decidimos llevarlo al hospital.



Fue internado.  Su cuerpo estaba en shock cardiogénico, pero no le dio un infarto.  Su corazón se ha deteriorado al punto que no produce la presión suficiente para circular la sangre necesario para su cuerpo.  Eso le esta afectando los riñones que produce poquito orina, entonce su cuerpo ha retenido mas agua, especialmente en los pies y piernas.  Lo trataron con medicina para mejor su presión, pero esa medicina es temporal.  Se mejoro su presión y pensaron que se puede recupera los riñones.   Le dieron de alta del hospital a una centro de recuperación donde le dan terapias física para reponer sus fuerzas.


Empezó con la terapias con buen resultados y pensaba que solo le iba necesitar una semana para poder irse a la casa.  Pero su peso subió de nuevo y continuó reteniendo agua.  Se pudo de nuevo tener mas dificultad de caminar y mover.  Se puso aun mas débil y produjo much menos orina.  Tenia que mandarlo de nuevo al hospital.  En total su corazón esta muy débil para dar circular bien la sangre en su cuerpo y sus riñones esta fallando mas que produce bien poca.  No le pueden hacer el diálisis porque se le baja aun mas su presión.   


Como familia discutimos  que lo mejor es tener mi papá cómodo y llevarlo a la casa.  Allí le podemos dar lo que necesita.  Mi hermana y yo estamos planeando como cuidarlo en casa.  Mi mamá pudo estar en casa y mi papá merece lo mismo.


Ya saben mucho de Uds. que nuestra familia hemos pasado por cosas difíciles últimamente.  Tenemos nuestro fe y todo esta en manos de Dios.  Pedimos oraciones para mi papá y la familia.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Laura Nunez

I was in my dad's room with him posting my last update about his condition.  He had settled down quite a bit after being agitated again.  He had been relatively relaxed for a while.  Juanita, Scott and the girls had gone home for the day.  My tío Metodio had gone to bed for the evening, but was available if I needed help from him during the night.  After sharing the update I began to look towards my dad again and suddenly I noticed his breathing had changed from a soft gargling breathing taking several soft breaths followed by noticeable breaks.  It had been much different from the other kind of apnea breaks he had before in his breathing.  I immediately called Juanita, Scott and the girls back.  Then a few minutes later his breathing stopped completely then back again then he stopped.  At this point I went and woke my tío (uncle) up and told I thought dad was gone.  He came into the room with me, then dad took two more breaths and then no more.  His body completely went limp.  We knew then it was final...Dad was in heaven.  Two minutes later Juanita, Scott and the girls arrive and we said our goodbyes.  We began to make phone calls to those immediate that needed/wanted to know no matter what time.  My cousin's husband, Eustolio, his sister Pat, my other cousins Monica, Marco and his wife Estela came to say goodbye and console my sister and I.  We got the beer and wine out and spent the next few hours in my parents' living room reminiscing about the times past and explaining things to my nieces Elizabeth and Lucita about those times.  It felt good to hear and share those stories again.  We grieve, but at the same time enjoy sharing the fun times in our family.

Here is the link to the funeral arrangements.   Funeral Services

Thank for continued prayers for my dad's journey into heaven.

Laura

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Estaba en el cuarto de mi papá cuando estaba publicando el último reporte. Se había calmado un poco después de estar agitado nuevamente. Había estado relativamente relajado por un tiempo. Juanita, Scott y sus hijas se habían ido a casa por el día. Mi tío Metodio se había acostado por la noche, pero estaba disponible si necesitaba ayuda de él durante la noche. Después de compartir el reporte, comencé a mirar hacia mi padre nuevamente y de repente noté que su respiración había cambiado de una respiración notables. Había sido muy diferente del otro tipo de rupturas de apnea que tenía antes en su respiración. Inmediatamente llamé a Juanita, Scott y las chicas. Luego, unos minutos más tarde, su respiración se detuvo por completo y luego volvió a detenerse. En este punto fui y desperté a mi tío (tío) y le dije que pensaba que papá se había ido. Entró al cuarto de mi papá conmigo, luego papá respiró dos veces más y luego no más. Su cuerpo quedó completamente flácido. Sabíamos que era final ... Papá estaba en el cielo. Dos minutos después llegaron Juanita, Scott y las muchachas y nos despedimos. Comenzamos a hacer llamadas a las personas inmediatas que necesitaban / querían saber sin importar a qué hora. El esposo de mi primo, Eustolio, su hermana Pat, mis otros primos Mónica, Marco y su esposa Estela vinieron a despedirse y consolar a mi hermana y a mí. Sacamos la cerveza y el vino y pasamos las siguientes horas en la sala de mis papá recordando los tiempos pasados ​​y explicando cosas a mis sobrinas Elizabeth y Lucita sobre esos tiempos. Se sintió bien escuchar y compartir esas historias nuevamente. Nos afligimos, pero al mismo tiempo disfrutamos compartiendo los momentos divertidos en nuestra familia.

Aqui esta la información en ingles sobre sus servicios  Funeral Services
(Velorio el miércoles de 4-8PM
  Misa el jueves al mediodía)

Gracias por las oraciones para el alma de mi papá llegara al cielo.

Laura
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