My name is Aileen Nguyen, and I am my father's caregiver. This blog is a collection of photos throughout the years as I take care of him. Also included on this blog are quick readings to help me stay informed of my father's health condition.
About my father -
His name is Muc Nguyen, and he is 80 years old this year (born in 1943).
In 2018, at the age of 75, my father could still drive and function normally.
Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 8:46 AM
In April 2018 at the age of 75 (due to a series of minor strokes)
- My father suddenly lost his ability to drive, communicate verbally, and perform basic tasks.
- He was misdiagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. Based on cognitive and behavioral observation, Aileen suspected dad had vascular dementia, and it was later confirmed with an MRI showing 6 different spots of mini strokes.
- He was then trained by Aileen (his first daughter) to communicate in short sentences, and she began to go on daily walks with him.
- He could follow simple commands but gradually lost his ability to feed himself and became incontinent.
- Aileen and mom spoon-fed and helped him with personal hygiene on a daily basis.
- My father could still smile showing his teeth.
In August 2019 at the age of 76 (due to a major stroke)
- My father lost his ability to walk, to speak and to swallow.
- He was hospitalized for the first time in the U.S. and came home in a wheel chair with a G-tube on.
- He was then trained by Aileen to speak in short phrases on his own, to walk again (with assistance), and some swallowing (soft snacks only).
- My father could still nod or shake his head and smile but no longer showing his teeth.
In September 2020 at the age of 77 (due to sepsis - and being alone in the hospital for about 3 weeks during the pandemic lockdown with no family visits allowed)
- My father came home completely bedridden (still unable to speak and swallow)
- He was then trained by Aileen again to gain some mobility in his arms and legs.
- Aileen also trained him to sit and stand (with assistance).
- Aileen helped him gain eight pounds with an increase of food intake and daily exercises.
- My father could till stand on a treadmill and walk for durations of a minute or two on his own.
- My father could still turn his head and look at people or follow moving objects.
- However, he lost his ability to nod, shake his head, or smile.
- For the next two and a half years, there were no hospitalizations, and my father could still watch TV for hours.
In March 2023 at the age of 80 (due to COVID symptoms)
- He was hospitalized for 20 days at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital (March 6-24, 2023)
- He came home for 10 days but did not do well (due to hyperglycemia)
- He was then hospitalized for 3 days in April 2023 (due to sepsis) at Huntington Beach Hospital (April 3-7, 2023)
- He was then transferred to Kindred Hospital in Santa Ana (April 7 - June 23, 2023) for 11 weeks where he received a blood transfusion for low RBC and was treated for UTI infections.