There is nothing as scary as a parents illness, particularly an illness somehow linked to aging. Good luck, and I hope the surgery goes well.
 

Andy...I'm dead tied because my job has been killer lately, but I'll email you later on this topic. My father had by-pass surgery about four years before he died. And no, his heart is NOT what killed him. It was bone cancer. In the end, he'd have preferred a heart attack. There are some things you and yoru family should prepare for so you don't panic. By-pass patients nearly ALL go through a period of pretty serious depression afterward. If it's facing their mortality or the discomfort or the limited mobility or the medications...who knows. But it's so common as to be considered normal. Don't panic when it happens. He'll seem suddenly MUCH older. That will pass. His legs will probably bother him even more than his chest. The scars are awful. I don't know if I'm making sense in this stream of conciousness. I'll write you when I'm more awake. Don't worry. This is a very common procedure now. Just make sure he takes it easy and follows doctors orders afterward. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.
 

I just wanted to say I'm here for you, and just stay strong, he will get through it.
 

I'm very sorry to hear about this, Andy. I remember when my dad had his stroke and the awfulness of uncertainty. Would he live? Would he walk again? Would he ever regain the use of his left hand? We all know that children are supposed to outlive the parents, but that doesn't make it any worse to watch your father have problems and suffer...and it does nothing to soothe the uncertainty.

I wish you and your father the best!
 

On another topic, Andy, your interview questions are posted on my blog.
 

Thank you all for your support and prayers. I haven't really decided to talk about it much more than I have, but you can bet that I will use you all as support after his surgery.