4 Days After Surgery

Sunday the 27th, 11:00 PM and I just got home from the hospital, tired but relieved that when I am not there, someone else is (tonight DeAnn Sarver is staying with Diane): Please don't feel left out if your not physically with Diane because she couldn't have made it without your comments, best wishes, and prayers.

On the 25th, Diane looked like the "pillsbury doe boy" due to fluid build-up from surgery. She also had an allergic reaction (we think to sulfa) which manifested in swelling of the head area, including throat obstruction which brought the house down: Allot of excitement in that room! They arrested the reaction and gave her diaretics to reduce the swelling. On the 26th, she had another small reaction but otherwise you could see great improvement. And today, 27th, you would never know anything had happened: She looks fabulous, pain free (still on pain meds), talking normal, no swelling, no complications, and all the children (35 yrs old and up) came to see her (9 people)......they couldn't believe how super she looked (Lucky we have a huge corner suite to accommodate everyone). It was a brief visit and Diane liked seeing all.

Physical Therapy (PT) is started as Diane has very little energy and weak hands. Today she did walk down the hall (with breaks): She is very proud of herself! Her nurse Neumanja (a big strong man) says to Diane "Shall We Dance" as he gets her out of bed and standing for PT. Diane probably isn't at her best as a dance partner: She has 3 tubes entering her belly (one feeding, others for draining stomach and belly), one in her neck for administering pain meds, a catheter, etc. and most have collection bags attached and her clothes definitely are not "Lance."

But all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow, they will put her out to perform an endoscopy down her throat with CT scan to see if the stitches and surgery are holding. Then, they will close off her drain line to her stomach to retrain her digestive system (they will slowly introduce food orally). This means more PT and 3 months of Nausea! Bad at first then a turn for the better after 2 months. The healing process now begins.

The good news is the Doctor says her surgery was textbook and one of the easiest procedures he has done. He says Diane's recovery is right on target and very successful. Diane is very lucky because this surgery procedure has only been available over the past 5 years.

Visitation is still discouraged until she gets her strength and we see where the next set of circumstances takes us. She is at Hoag Hospital on the 6th floor of East Wing room 028 (I think). We will answer her phone (949) 764-6628, but she isn't strong enough to personally take your call: We will relay message.

Thanks All for visiting the blog. See you on the next blog update. Jeff.