Baby steps.

So, if you're reading this you've heard the sad news that my Dad, Neil Nelkin, has had a heart attack. What has transpired over the last two days has literally rocked my world and has put everything in my life into a new perspective. I would give everything to have my old world back. One is which my Dad, my rock, were only a phone call away, with his powerful voice and worldly knowledge. I am truly lost without him.

For those of you who do not know what has happened I will try to give a brief review of the events of the last few days. Forgive my lack of knowledge on the subject, as I am quickly learning all the correct vocabulary for what is happening. Sunday, March 15, 2009, at around 11 PM Dad drove himself to the ER at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Fortunately for him, and the rest of us, he lives less than a mile from this hospital. By the time he arrived he was in serious cardiac arrest and the Doctors and Nurses were unable to get any information from him beyond what they found in his wallet. Unfortunately, he had no next of kin or in case of emergency information on him. Through the night they found a blockage in the front part of his heart and were able to put in two stints. He had suffered a massive heart attack.

At around 9am Monday morning I received a phone call at work from worried coworkers who had not yet heard from my Dad. They were actually in his apartment with the Omaha Police Department. The police eventually tracked him down at UNMC which is where we have been ever since.

Monday was a long day. Wrapping my head around the sight of my Dad in any incapacitated state has been very difficult.

He is on a ventilator to breath, under heavy sedation and has balloon inserted into his heart to help its function. This balloon is essentially the only thing keeping his heart beating right now. His cardiologist told me that the next few days are critical in knowing the outcome of this situation. He has no future goals right now but getting through the days and nights, which we have done successfully so far.

The Doctors and Nurses here at UNMC have done a great job. Much to my Father's amusement, if he only knew, his night Nurse this week a cute little blond...just my Dad's type. Dr. Haas, his cardiologist, even though I've just met him really seems to know what he's doing. He's even got great bedside manner. I just want everyone to be assured that he is good hands and receiving the best care possible.

Dr. Haas makes rounds once a day, so I'll try to update this blog as the information comes in.

I always knew that my Dad had a lot of friends, but the outpouring of love and kindness over the last few days has been overwhelming. Everyone from US Senators, to people he started KX104 with in North Platte have been contacting us on a daily basis just to send love and prayers and get updates. It has been great, and much needed support to my Dad and our family in this hard time. I know my Dad would be pissed if he knew how much people have been fussing over him. But we all know what kind of a person he is and how lucky we all are to have him in our worlds. He IS Neil, and there is no one else in this world who can come even close to comparing.

Keep the prayers and positive energy coming!