Ides of March

Got a text from Dad's wife today, asking that I call her.  Dad has not been in good health recently.  Lots of issues with his lungs going back six months or more.  He found out there was a tiny clot in an artery feeding the lungs.  The clot was too small for any type of procedure.  He has been on oxygen since before Christmas and, at his last doctor's appointment, was told he will be put on a transplant list.  The doctor's office later called to say he would not be on the list as he did not (yet) meet criteria.

Called Joan and found out that Dad is not letting her go to his doctor's appt. on Monday.  She was concerned about this as Dad does not always get all the information that he is given or mixes something up.  She also said Dad has been a bit depressed because he is unable to do the things he had been doing.  So, I'm going to head up to Sioux Falls on Monday and hope that Dad does not kick me out.  It is a little scary, but there have been so many medical issues for Dad (shoulder surgerys, foot infection/toe amputation, heart attack & bypass, diabetes, stroke) that I kind of have more of a "roll with it" thought process with Dad.  That whatever the doctor says, Dad will roll with it and come out the other side.  After his last visit with this doctor, Dad asked around about lung transplant and found someone in his community that knew someone in a neighboring community who had it done.  So, he is thinking about it as an option.

I do want to know from the doctor about what we could expect if Dad did need a transplant, i.e how much quality of life and/or how much life w/out a transplant.  Is his condition going to continue to deteriorate or is it as bad as it is going to get?  A wee bit nervous about the answers, but would prefer to know rather than go off little to no information.