Grant Laird, Jr. Blog

NOTE: This is my true experience when my father went thru difficult times in 1998. I found this letter (more of timeline) that I wrote to few friends / families and his doctor. It’s been 8 years now. My dad is doing just fine even few things has changed over times. Read on – remember I wrote this letter in 1998.

I am writing you a letter to let you know exactly what has been going on. First of all, my father, Grant W. Laird, Sr. has several health problems in the past. He has back injuries from Texas Instruments approximately 8 years ago and forced to retire. Few years later, he discovered that he has diabetics and been taking diabetics’ pills prescribed by Doctor Johnson from Grand Prairie. He has smoked for long time. He will be 52 years old in October. He is highly active among variety of places and probably did not get enough rest or under stress. As far as I know, he does not drink alcohol except few occasions. My father & step-mother Donna and their three children live in Arlington.

My father does not like to have an interpreter provided at hospital or at doctor office unlike other deaf patients. He likes to keep things private and I respect his decision that requires to have communication by writing on paper. He also likes to take all notes home to read them over to make sure he understood what’s going on. In my opinion, he may be stubborn to listen from any family members or friends to take it easy and rest more often. I encourage you to take it seriously with him for today’s appointment that is February 23, 1998 at 4:00 PM respectfully.

It all began on evening of February 10th when I saw him at the club, I immediately recognized unusual of his behavior. He was walking like he lost his balance and bump into the wall and the chairs. A friend said he was just tired and overworked. I just knew something was wrong with him and talked to him. He told me that he’s trying to stay balanced and took new medicine for diabetics. Later on, he was ready to leave for home and I asked him if he was in good condition to drive because he told me that he twice bumped while driving to club. He kept saying, “I am fine. I am fine.” I finally let him go. I called my spouse Misty and left message on answer machine to let her know to contact my father’s spouse, Donna to let her know the situation with my dad. 

On same evening, Donna called me at the club. I explained to her about my father and she said I should have followed him just to make sure he was okay. After brief discussion on the phone with TDD, I immediately left and looked for him. After 1-2 hours later, Donna and their three children (all pre-teenagers) and I looked for him and could not find him. Unfortunately, we found him but his truck was gone. We learned that he had major auto accident on the way home. He seemed all right but how he behaved and does not remember many things, he looked awful. Donna and I agreed and took the keys to make sure he did not go out again since he refused to seek help due to accident. We later learned that his truck rolled over twice and amazingly he was okay.

Next night, I called my Uncle Paul and we went over to see him. Paul immediately recognized him unusual behavior. We talked over 1-2 hours long. We managed to convince him to go see his diabetic doctor. He agreed and went to see him next day. Donna did not come with him because she had to pick the children up. Doctor Johnson prescribed him dizzy pills that supposed to reduce his lost balance and his sugar-level was fine. That’s all.

On Friday evening, I was fixing to go work on night-shift at Texas Instruments in Dallas. At 6:30 PM, I got called from Donna saying that they are at DFW Medical Center Hospital in Grand Prairie because he had heart attack. They did not call 911. They just drove to the hospital. He was transferred to Arlington Columbia Hospital where there was equipment available to aid his heart attack. Most of the family members were watching the monitor as they performed the balloon surgery and did at least one stent implant procedure. He finally moved to ICU room sometime after midnight. We talked little. We were relieved that he was doing better after surgery.

On Saturday afternoon, my family and I went to see him in his ICU room but somehow, my children and his children heard his screaming, “I don’t want to die!”. We were waiting in the hall next to his room. They were doing some tests and supposed to remove the tube catheter. We finally got to see him late that night and he told me that nurse really scared him. Apparently, they caused him to panic. What’s more that he has bad back and he does not feel very comfortable on the bed. He tried to move to the side but the nurses won’t let him. Other than that, he looks better.

Next day, we went to see him again. We talked a lot and we told him that it is good to have him back too normal. On Monday morning, Donna called me and told me that they were releasing him at noon. I am impressed that hospital was letting him go so early. I did not know exactly why but I was told that he only got instructed to get medicine for his heart condition but nothing else like diet, exercise, and quit his smoking. I can’t believe they actually letting him go early. We had family dinner at his house and he was looking good. I noticed he was smoking few cigarettes. He told me that he does not know almost anything from Tuesday till Friday prior to his heart attack.

On February 22nd, we got a call from Donna to see if their family could come over our house for dinner. We learned that my dad had minor auto accident with his rental car on the way to club last Saturday night. What’s more that he was behaving strangely again just like last week. After we discussed and we agreed that I am one who should go to his doctor appointment and ensure that we give you enough details to give my dad better medical advice and future support.

Finally, I would like for you to give my father the best examination in doctor office and continue your support for his health and happiness. If you suggest to refer to other doctor, please give us his name and appointment. Many thank for your support with us all.

February 22: My father admitted for first time to doctor office with someone. He usually goes to office by himself for diabetics and other things. Anyway, my dad and I had long talk with Doctor Bode for 1.5 hours. Being with him, I was able to remind him to ask doctor more deep questions and just be there to support him. He does have critical heart problem and him really had FOUR stent implanted in his arteries. He requested pills for quit smoking and phobia. He offered but mandatory requested him to instruction for this prescription before he can write RX for him on next appointment. 

Apparently, it was powerful but Bode clearly said that he has to stop smoking when taking pills or it will cause conflict and will result in heart attack. Both do not mix. He said once he quit smoking, it should help reduce his phobia problem. He gave lots of brochures and all information he has to read at home about heart condition, diets, exercises, and others. As of today, he is not allowed to drive at any time till he sees other doctor name Johnson who is his specialty for diabetics about his loss of balance problem. Dr Bode thinks it has to do with his hearing or his brain but not his heart problem.

Grant Sr. already have appointment with Dr Johnson on March 3rd and he needs to request cholesterol checkup. He normally goes see diabetic doctor monthly for checkup. What’s more that he needs to start walking at comfortable pace twice a day with 1/4 mile every time and increase other 1/4 every four day till 2 miles. He also needs to rest completely about 45-60 minutes twice a day. He has many prescription pills for his diabetics and heart condition by now. About 10 of them that he has to take daily, some in the morning, some for bedtime and some for if necessary. He needs to take Vitamin E daily. It’s really entirely up to him to take it seriously to improve his health or he will face more seriously in the future. Oh yeah, we are going to see Doctor Bode again on Friday March 13th (exactly one month since his heart attack on February 13th).

Saturday February 28th: Misty and I went to DCCD for The Wild Zappers show which hosted by Deaf America. We surprised that my father and his family came, too. He seems to be all right but he is still running errands there.

Friday March 13th: I came to Arlington to take my father to see his doctor appointment at 2:00 PM with Doctor Bode (cardiologist). While we are waiting, we talked a lot about panic attack as he described it. He had to get medicine Xanox-like generic to help calm his panic feeling from his diabetic doctor few days ago. He started to experience panic disorder lately. My father told doctor about it. He wanted to start Rx for his quit smoking. Dr. Bode explained how important it is when start to take this medicine (Zylan). Other than that, he is looking goods. He has other appointment with him on March 31st. I spend time with his family for while after the doctor appointment. They are doing very well. Grant Sr. has finally given up some of his responsibilities at DCCD.

Best Regards,
Grant W. Laird, Jr.
(Grant W. Laird, Sr’s elder son)

Grant W Laird, Jr.
http://blog.grantlairdjr.com