My pops could use some positive thoughts his way..

[The Bad Guy]

6 of the last 12 Christmas vacations have been spent in the friendly confines of the local hospital because my dad has had some type of issue. Literally, around the holidays it means that ole pops is going to be admitted for some illness.

Well this year didn't disappoint and presented a whole mess of other issues that were unexpected.

My dad is only 56, has had 4 heart attacks (one at 30, one at 36, one at 44 and a small one last year). He has terrible back issues. However, he keeps himself in shape at the gym each day.

Last Friday, he had to be rushed to the hospital with what was determined as a kidney stone. Terrible pain. However in the scans, they noticed that the aneurysm he knew about didn't look right so they wanted to do more tests on the aorta to see if the aneurysm was separating away from the artery.

They gave him a dye that he was allergic to (thank god he had taken bennadryl earlier in the day and that neutralized the dye's impact on his system) so he had to wait to have the tests done.

He went back in today, and they found a small blood clot in his lung, and then determined that his aorta is splitting in several areas. They have to wait until the clot passes so they can take care of the artery.

Doctors say this is a more serious surgery than open heart. My old man has been through a lot, but this is the first time in a long time that I saw him really afraid because of how serious the nature of the surgery is. Plus, with the recovery time, he'll be away from the gym, and that's not really good for his heart issues either.

If you can throw up some good thoughts/prayers that whatever obstacles come in his way he's able to conquer I'd appreciate it. I want him to be around to see my son and the 2nd kid on the way in August grow up.

Sorry for the long-winded post. Thanks in advance.