Butch developed an infection in the suture. They had to push the blood out of the suture - that hurt! Also, They put a needle between the 3rd and 4th rib to drain off fluids. He is quite uncomfortable, but - many good things have happened today, also. They took all the IV's off - until about 4:00 when the Doctors ordered IV fluids put back in. He came off oxygen today, and is breathing totally on his own. He is using the little oxygen breather to get his capacity back and did very well - 800 - better then the 750 he did yesterday when he was on oxygen!
I talked to the dietician today, and got the dietary needs straightened out, I hope. Also they will give him a Boost at each meal (boost is 250 calories - packed with vitamins and minerals). I can't control the awful food, though - institutional food at its very worst. At least we can order whole grains instead of white , and low sugar - really - they should be ashamed to feed that stuff to people that are already ill! I guess I can't control much about this situation, but I hope I can help get him better nutrition. I specifically told her about them serving him gravy 2 meals in a row his first day back on solids - she said that was SO not the right thing to do.
The Home Health co-ordinator came in and we talked. We will have them come to Family House when he comes here after discharge - to help with drains, etc. They will also help arrange for some help when we get home. Family House has elevators , so he doesn't have to worry about steps, and we should be fine here for awhile. We don't have a time frame for discharge yet - hopefully soon we will now - Butch is hopeful that it will be Friday - I SERIOUSLY doubt that, but - we will see.
The jaundice is almost gone. Did I tell you that the floor he is on is a GI surgery recovery floor - kidneys, bowel, liver,etc. They are all private rooms. They swab for MRSA upon admittance to the unit, and are VERY careful - nothing like they were on that transplant ICU, though. When I left tonight they were running magnesium sulfite and sodium chloride thru IV. They took out 1 of the J-pouches, only one left. Switched him back from heparin to lovenox, and blood glucose was 177 today - not too bad, but - they gave him a shot of insulin. His chest still kind of looks like he is a robot - wires everywhere, but they are pretty much gone from everywhere else. We walked quite a ways out in the hall - tomorrow we will try to double it. He is sitting up and eating, and taking an interest in Fox news again - even talked about the stock market being up a bit today. Still slept a lot though - little snoozes in between activity.
Pastor Bob and Carolyn Witherow came to visit today - it is so wonderful to see folks from home when we are this far away. His friend Mike Debonis - who he has known for years - called him and they talked for a time, and he spoke to his sister Carolyn and her husband Joe on the phone today also. That all brings a sense of normalcy to this situation, and it does help him. I do see him getting a little better each day. the floor aides and nurses said they are going to put me on the payroll, and that I can have a job as a nurses aide if I want - I have experience now!
When I got back here tonight - they had cooked a big ham - scalloped potatoes, green beans, and we had pineapple upside down cake and watermelon and grapes for dessert. So - don't worry about me - I am being taken care of. When Butch comes back here, I will cook for everybody to repay them - we all take a turn. It is sort of like living at a spiritual YWCA/YMCA! Also - I have got a lot done on that Christmas table topper I am embroidering - and have read many chapters of the cancer nutrition book I bought.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday the 21st
Well - I was wrong - it wasn't "polar infusion" - it was pleural effusion - both the nurses - Sharan and Melanie - set me straight on this last night - they sure are handy to have access to. They put a stent in to drain off the fluid - from the left lung - they drained a liter off by 2:00 - still draining, hope maybe they will be done tomorrow. There is quite a bit of pain associated with this fluid, so they changed the pain medication to deladed (he told them he couldn't double up on the Oxycontin - it snockers him). This pretty much did too - he slept through most of the day today - probably the best thing. They did get him up this morning and he walked up and down the hall a bit (with the therapists assist). he is still getting respiratory therapy, and still short of breath with any exertion, but his fever is normal now.
We received flowers and a beautiful plant today - from Mom & Dad. The plant had a real plant and artificial small sunflowers - the flowers were for me (beautiful carnations and roses) Thanks Mom & Dad.
Mom - he stayed awake long enough to watch "the Price is Right" - one of your favorite programs. Most of the day, I put the "CARE" network on - provided by the hospital. It is guided imagery - meditation and visualization - beautiful pictures of nature, along with wonderful comforting music and messages. They say this helps to speed up the recovery process, control pain and reduce stress and anxiety. It was very nice - he said he found it helpful, so I am glad I found that station.
There are a couple of things of interest - I forgot to tell you that the transplant olymics was here last week - they ended on the day Butch had his surgery. 2nd - The night of the surgery when the surgeon talked to me he mentioned that he liked Butch - said he reminded him of Clint Eastwood! I always liked Clint, and I do think Butch is handsome, but I have noticed the resemblance - what do you think? The last thing is about that pregnant young woman who was murdered - Kia Johnson - and had her baby taken out of her by a crazy woman. This happened on a street about 3 blocks away from this Family House - it is a really horrible story.
That's all for now folks.
We received flowers and a beautiful plant today - from Mom & Dad. The plant had a real plant and artificial small sunflowers - the flowers were for me (beautiful carnations and roses) Thanks Mom & Dad.
Mom - he stayed awake long enough to watch "the Price is Right" - one of your favorite programs. Most of the day, I put the "CARE" network on - provided by the hospital. It is guided imagery - meditation and visualization - beautiful pictures of nature, along with wonderful comforting music and messages. They say this helps to speed up the recovery process, control pain and reduce stress and anxiety. It was very nice - he said he found it helpful, so I am glad I found that station.
There are a couple of things of interest - I forgot to tell you that the transplant olymics was here last week - they ended on the day Butch had his surgery. 2nd - The night of the surgery when the surgeon talked to me he mentioned that he liked Butch - said he reminded him of Clint Eastwood! I always liked Clint, and I do think Butch is handsome, but I have noticed the resemblance - what do you think? The last thing is about that pregnant young woman who was murdered - Kia Johnson - and had her baby taken out of her by a crazy woman. This happened on a street about 3 blocks away from this Family House - it is a really horrible story.
That's all for now folks.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunday - a long day
Today was a busy day for Butch - they took out the epidural and the Foley Catheter. He got an injection of Lasix, Heparin (because of the blood clots in March), sucrose - to drive the potassium back into the cells, and he recieved Physical and Occupational Therapy. Sat in the chair for well over 2 hours. We were doing well, but, when we went to move him back to the bed, he became very short of breath. They are giving him breating tretments every 4 hours now. Also his temperature went up - to 101.3 - and they ran tests to fing out why - EKG, Chest X-ray, CT scan. We do not have the results yet - they are trying to find out if fluid has built up in the abdominal area - that causes these symtoms (I think the nurse said polar infusion, but I could be wrong). After giving him tylenol, his temp went back down. I will post tomorrow with the answer.
Oh yes - he is without the IV and was served a normal lunch and dinner - food looked TERRIBLE - and he did not eat much. He is quite a picky eater anyway, and , because of the cancer has many dietary restrictions. I will try to contact dietary tomorrow - they served him dried out meat covered with awful looking gravy (they said one meal was turkey and one pork - but - they looked exactly the same - and tasted the same - sawdust!), vegetables that looked like they were cooked overnight - removing any possible nutrition from them, and white everything - bread, potates (covered with that nasty gravy), and LOADS of sugar - with extra packets for good measure. I will speak to someone about this. I will take some ensure in tomorrow, I got him an apple and a banana from the cafeteria today. We will have to fix this somehow.
I am hoping that he does not have fluid in that cavity - please say a prayer for him tonight.
Oh yes - he is without the IV and was served a normal lunch and dinner - food looked TERRIBLE - and he did not eat much. He is quite a picky eater anyway, and , because of the cancer has many dietary restrictions. I will try to contact dietary tomorrow - they served him dried out meat covered with awful looking gravy (they said one meal was turkey and one pork - but - they looked exactly the same - and tasted the same - sawdust!), vegetables that looked like they were cooked overnight - removing any possible nutrition from them, and white everything - bread, potates (covered with that nasty gravy), and LOADS of sugar - with extra packets for good measure. I will speak to someone about this. I will take some ensure in tomorrow, I got him an apple and a banana from the cafeteria today. We will have to fix this somehow.
I am hoping that he does not have fluid in that cavity - please say a prayer for him tonight.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Saturday - Butch goes to a regular room
Today was a good day - We finally got Butch moved out of the TICU into a room on the 10 floor - N 1078. Some people have asked about sending cards so - the address where we are staying is :
Family House
514 N. Neville St.
Pittsburgh, Penna.
15213
The hospital is :
UPMC Montefiore Hospital
200 Lothrop St.
Pittsburgh, Penna.
15213-2582
Today he ate some jello, and drank some juice. Tomorrow I imagine the menu will be stepped up. The room they moved him into on the 10th floor is a private room, and very nice - bright and sunny. The operation caused him to be quite jaundiced - the 1st day I saw him after surgery, he was "shining like the sun". He is MUCH better now - the jaundice is fading, although he is still quite yellow. The Doctor says this is normal, and it will fade away. He slept most of the day, bur did manage to watch some of the British Open on TV. It will be good for him to be on another floor - it was very dark and gloomy in that TICU, and the nurse said that compared to most of their patients - he was almost well! This, combined with the Mayo Trip, has given me a new appreciation for good health, and increased my compassion for those people who have such serious health problems - being around the people who need transplants, and their families, (there are several of them here at Family House now), I have a new understanding of the difficulties and hardships that they endure with such grace and dignity.
That's all for now, folks - I'm off to sit in the heating pad. After almost 3 days of sitting in a metal folding chair next to Butch's bed in the TICU, my back is killing me! I love the new room - there is a comfortable chair for me, as well as a great chair for Butch to sit in when he is not in bed. But I want to say - all the Doctors and nurses assure me that he is doing very well. This was an enormously big surgery, and he is making progress toward recovery. I thank God every day for this progress he is making.
Family House
514 N. Neville St.
Pittsburgh, Penna.
15213
The hospital is :
UPMC Montefiore Hospital
200 Lothrop St.
Pittsburgh, Penna.
15213-2582
Today he ate some jello, and drank some juice. Tomorrow I imagine the menu will be stepped up. The room they moved him into on the 10th floor is a private room, and very nice - bright and sunny. The operation caused him to be quite jaundiced - the 1st day I saw him after surgery, he was "shining like the sun". He is MUCH better now - the jaundice is fading, although he is still quite yellow. The Doctor says this is normal, and it will fade away. He slept most of the day, bur did manage to watch some of the British Open on TV. It will be good for him to be on another floor - it was very dark and gloomy in that TICU, and the nurse said that compared to most of their patients - he was almost well! This, combined with the Mayo Trip, has given me a new appreciation for good health, and increased my compassion for those people who have such serious health problems - being around the people who need transplants, and their families, (there are several of them here at Family House now), I have a new understanding of the difficulties and hardships that they endure with such grace and dignity.
That's all for now, folks - I'm off to sit in the heating pad. After almost 3 days of sitting in a metal folding chair next to Butch's bed in the TICU, my back is killing me! I love the new room - there is a comfortable chair for me, as well as a great chair for Butch to sit in when he is not in bed. But I want to say - all the Doctors and nurses assure me that he is doing very well. This was an enormously big surgery, and he is making progress toward recovery. I thank God every day for this progress he is making.
Friday, July 18, 2008
2nd day after surgery
Well - the posting from yesterday had two BIG errors - 1) - Butch had 3/4 of his liver (not stomach) out, and 2) - 8 PINTS of blood - not quarts! I was pretty tired yesterday morning, and my mind is not quite right yet, but - we are getting there. it is difficult to get computer access, but , it was free now. Butch is still in the ICU transplant unit, but he is to be transferred up to a room tonight. He is doing very well , the doctors say - stable, good readings, looking less jaundiced (the surgery made him jaundiced). He is having some problems with reactions from medications, and the amounts of aneastetic they had to give him, etc. but that should go away in the next few days, the doctor said. Actually, he is still sleping most of the time, but - they did get him into a chair today for a couple of hours. Hoepfully, tomorrow will be even better.
There are some women here at Family House who have been here a long, long time - waiting for transplants for their husbands, etc. They cook for us if we chip in to cover costs. Tonight we had fish and a kettle of beans and ham, along with cornbread. Delicious cake for dessert - and fruit. This is such a wonderful thing - we eat family style, and then spend some time talking together. Before the meal, we stand in a circle and pray (one of the men is a minister - his wife is ill and in the hospital here) - he asks God's guidance and blessing on each of us , and our loved ones. Very good both spiritually , and also - great food!
Our friend Bob Witherow drove back over yesterday to see Butch in the ICU - that was wonderful for Butch, and we are so appreciative.
I'm pretty cooked, so - I will sign off - just want to thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers.
There are some women here at Family House who have been here a long, long time - waiting for transplants for their husbands, etc. They cook for us if we chip in to cover costs. Tonight we had fish and a kettle of beans and ham, along with cornbread. Delicious cake for dessert - and fruit. This is such a wonderful thing - we eat family style, and then spend some time talking together. Before the meal, we stand in a circle and pray (one of the men is a minister - his wife is ill and in the hospital here) - he asks God's guidance and blessing on each of us , and our loved ones. Very good both spiritually , and also - great food!
Our friend Bob Witherow drove back over yesterday to see Butch in the ICU - that was wonderful for Butch, and we are so appreciative.
I'm pretty cooked, so - I will sign off - just want to thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
July 17 - Operation Successful
It is 8:00 AM on Thursday - Praise God - the operation was successful, and Butch is in the Transplant ICU for now - the only place they could put him at 10:30 last night. He was still under when I left him, so I haven't spoken to him - but - he is starting his recovery. The Doctor took 3/4 quarters of his stomach, and had to reconstruct the portal vein, among other things - took from 9:30 yesterday morning until after 9:30 last night. There was a spot on the left side also - so he cut that out (hence the other 1/4). They told me they gave him 8 quarts of blood.
I am going over to the hospital soon - will write more tonight. It turns out that this Family House does not have access to the internet for guests, except on a computer they have set up for the purpose, so I am writing on that computer. I suppose I could take the laptop to the hospital, but - stupid shoulder might act up, - so - yuck. Couldn't call on my cell phone from inside the hospital either - so - I am technically frustrated!
Yesterday, just about the point where I was most afraid they would call off the operation (after about the 1 1/2 hour mark where it happened at Mayo) - I looked up and saw Pastor Bob Witherow coming toward me! Mike Cogswell told him we would be here, and he drove over from Ohio to see us. He truly was a messenger from God! he stayed a while and kept me company, and I felt SO much better - thank you Bob and Mike.
I am going over to the hospital soon - will write more tonight. It turns out that this Family House does not have access to the internet for guests, except on a computer they have set up for the purpose, so I am writing on that computer. I suppose I could take the laptop to the hospital, but - stupid shoulder might act up, - so - yuck. Couldn't call on my cell phone from inside the hospital either - so - I am technically frustrated!
Yesterday, just about the point where I was most afraid they would call off the operation (after about the 1 1/2 hour mark where it happened at Mayo) - I looked up and saw Pastor Bob Witherow coming toward me! Mike Cogswell told him we would be here, and he drove over from Ohio to see us. He truly was a messenger from God! he stayed a while and kept me company, and I felt SO much better - thank you Bob and Mike.
All of our thoughts and prayers were heard, and now we need to pray for Butch's safe and speedy recovery.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Leaving for Pittsburgh tomorrow
UPMC called us over the weekend - the operation will be Wednesday, instead of Tuesday. So - we are driving down on Tuesday, we have to be at Montafiore Hospital at 5:00 in the morning on Wednesday - surgery scheduled for 7:00 AM - first of the day.
We have had a busy week - trying to get everything done here at home before we leave. probably Butch won't feel much like doing anything for awhile when we get home , and we will probably be in Pittsburgh a minimum of 2 weeks - more like 3, I imagine. Friday we golfed with Joe and Carolyn, and Saturday night we won the title back in our pinochle championship. We have tried to keep a feeling of normalcy in our lives - just doing the normal family stuff we always do - but - as the time grows closer and closer - we both are feeling the stress of playing this waiting game. Yesterday, we met Melanie and Glen, Samantha and Alex for an afternoon at the Ross Park Zoo. We bought subs and ate them at the pavilion, and went on the merry-go-round . As we got off the merry-go-round, it started to rain - and it poured for quite a while. We ended up sitting in their back yard, drinking Dunkin Donuts Mocha Latte's! Oh well - we had fun anyway. Tonight we went to see Alex's ball game - they were losing badly when we left to go eat at Olive Garden.
Packing is mostly done - want to hit the road by 10:00. We are going a different way - mapquest and AAA mapped us on all these secondary roads, and we got held up a lot going down last time, so we are going to try going 17 to Erie, and taking 79 down to Pittsburgh - we'll see how long that takes. Last time we came back by swinging east and taking 81, BUT - the construction was terrible, so - we'll try this route. We don't need to pack much for Butch - we will try to travel light.
I don't mind telling you that I am breaking out in hives tonight - I have been "cool as a cucumber" for the last couple of weeks, but - I am nervous now. I will be SOOO glad when the operation is all over, the tumor is OUT of there, and Butch is recovering nicely. I thank God for giving us the strength to bear up, and ask for continued guidance as we walk this path that has been set for us.
We have had a busy week - trying to get everything done here at home before we leave. probably Butch won't feel much like doing anything for awhile when we get home , and we will probably be in Pittsburgh a minimum of 2 weeks - more like 3, I imagine. Friday we golfed with Joe and Carolyn, and Saturday night we won the title back in our pinochle championship. We have tried to keep a feeling of normalcy in our lives - just doing the normal family stuff we always do - but - as the time grows closer and closer - we both are feeling the stress of playing this waiting game. Yesterday, we met Melanie and Glen, Samantha and Alex for an afternoon at the Ross Park Zoo. We bought subs and ate them at the pavilion, and went on the merry-go-round . As we got off the merry-go-round, it started to rain - and it poured for quite a while. We ended up sitting in their back yard, drinking Dunkin Donuts Mocha Latte's! Oh well - we had fun anyway. Tonight we went to see Alex's ball game - they were losing badly when we left to go eat at Olive Garden.
Packing is mostly done - want to hit the road by 10:00. We are going a different way - mapquest and AAA mapped us on all these secondary roads, and we got held up a lot going down last time, so we are going to try going 17 to Erie, and taking 79 down to Pittsburgh - we'll see how long that takes. Last time we came back by swinging east and taking 81, BUT - the construction was terrible, so - we'll try this route. We don't need to pack much for Butch - we will try to travel light.
I don't mind telling you that I am breaking out in hives tonight - I have been "cool as a cucumber" for the last couple of weeks, but - I am nervous now. I will be SOOO glad when the operation is all over, the tumor is OUT of there, and Butch is recovering nicely. I thank God for giving us the strength to bear up, and ask for continued guidance as we walk this path that has been set for us.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
July 8 -Surgery one week from today
We are trying to keep busy - waiting is so difficult, and so much depends on the surgery. We had a large tree removed between our house and Irene's house - it was too close to the foundation. So - last weekend we brought in soil - LOTS of it, and spread it and planted grass seed. I was able to plant that side of the house with some perennials from my other gardens (mostly lillies and hosta - plants that light partial shade), and move plants around to better advantage - it never got enough light there before. Along with the branches we had removed on the HUGE oak tree out back - we have much more sunlight coming in back there now. The sunsetter awning gives us plenty of shade, though. So - that was the big excitement of the week!
I went up to work and attended a picnic they were having last week - it was great to see all my friends and co-workers. You might know I would show up for food! On Saturday - we had our 4th of July celebration at Mom and Dad's on Saturday, as Dad played at Picnic in the Woods on Friday. The kids swam up a storm and we had a nice time. Both our brother-in-law Joe and Alan have birthday's on July 4th - so - Happy Birthday to you both. Mom is having the 2nd cataract taken off today, and Dad goes to the Doctor tomorrow to see about knee surgery - hopefully in the next month. Butch is feeling quite well - some abdominal pain, which we hope will go away after the surgery - and he is golfing today with his buddies. I am going to take Alexandria clothes shopping - Lane Bryant is having a 70 percent off sale, and that means - bargains! That is one thing Alex and Sammy and I have in common - a love of shopping!
I just called Family House and they said to call next Monday between 10 and 1 - they will have a place for us when we get there. I hope you saw the slide show of Pittsburgh - it is very nice, although we are on the outskirts - about 1o minutes away from Pittsburgh proper - never saw downtown! Family House is wonderful - they even provide the coffee - 24 hours a day.
Strange summer for weather, don't you think? Not bad , actually - not too hot most days, overcast one minute - sun the next - rain forecast for almost every day. Sharan says there is a heat wave in Dallas - over 90 every day. I will take good old Broome/Tioga County. It is beautiful here - with the mountains and the lush green foliage. Our backyard is very busy- the birds are singing and eating at the feeder, the chipmunks and squirrels are busy all day, and when you go out there and sit - you are never alone.
We have so many people praying for Butch's successful recovery that we feel blessed. Old friends and new, along with our families, we feel surrounded by grace and love.
I went up to work and attended a picnic they were having last week - it was great to see all my friends and co-workers. You might know I would show up for food! On Saturday - we had our 4th of July celebration at Mom and Dad's on Saturday, as Dad played at Picnic in the Woods on Friday. The kids swam up a storm and we had a nice time. Both our brother-in-law Joe and Alan have birthday's on July 4th - so - Happy Birthday to you both. Mom is having the 2nd cataract taken off today, and Dad goes to the Doctor tomorrow to see about knee surgery - hopefully in the next month. Butch is feeling quite well - some abdominal pain, which we hope will go away after the surgery - and he is golfing today with his buddies. I am going to take Alexandria clothes shopping - Lane Bryant is having a 70 percent off sale, and that means - bargains! That is one thing Alex and Sammy and I have in common - a love of shopping!
I just called Family House and they said to call next Monday between 10 and 1 - they will have a place for us when we get there. I hope you saw the slide show of Pittsburgh - it is very nice, although we are on the outskirts - about 1o minutes away from Pittsburgh proper - never saw downtown! Family House is wonderful - they even provide the coffee - 24 hours a day.
Strange summer for weather, don't you think? Not bad , actually - not too hot most days, overcast one minute - sun the next - rain forecast for almost every day. Sharan says there is a heat wave in Dallas - over 90 every day. I will take good old Broome/Tioga County. It is beautiful here - with the mountains and the lush green foliage. Our backyard is very busy- the birds are singing and eating at the feeder, the chipmunks and squirrels are busy all day, and when you go out there and sit - you are never alone.
We have so many people praying for Butch's successful recovery that we feel blessed. Old friends and new, along with our families, we feel surrounded by grace and love.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
June 30 - 2008 - The Doctor's Opinion
Dr. Gamblin is a very nice, VERY experienced liver surgeon who saw us yesterday. He believes that he can operate on Butch and will do a liver resection on July 15th. He will remove the entire right lobe of the liver, which contains the tumor and the malignant bile ducts. He will then take the bile ducts which come out of the right side of the liver, which are not malignant, and attach them to the left lobe of the liver, which is already growing to compenstae for the bad right side - the liver is an amazing organ, and can regenerate itself. The tumor has grown only about a centimeter since we left Mayo, Thanks be to God, and the small amount of chemo that he had - combined with the new healthy eating habits we have adopted , have kept it in operatable range. It is about 8.3 centimeters, which is quite large - about 3 1/2 inches - they like to operate when they are under 5 centimeters, but - doable. He will also remove the malignant lymph nodes in the diaphraghm, and Butch will have chemo when we come home to catch any microscopic nasties that are floating around. We talked about radiation in the event of a recurrence, and he is going to leave "markers" in there for a guide in the future (where the malignant lymph nodes were), for radiation, further surgery, etc.
I am not sure of the length of the operation - quite lengthy, I do know, but , if everything goes well, he will be in the hospital 7 to 10 days. We can come home - hopefully - after his two week check up, and do follow up here. We will have to go to Pittsburgh every 3 months for follow up - CT scans, etc. Dr. Gamblin and his 2 associates did 2000 liver oeprations last year, so - he certainly has a lot of experience. This includes the liver operations for the liver transplants - there were people staying there at Family House who were waiting for transplants - you have to be within 4 hours if a transplant comes up for you.
The picture of Butch is in front of Family House - we were waiting to catch the free shuttle to the hospital yesterday. After all the preop testing, we left and came home - got home around 1:30 this morning - drove thru some pretty bad thunder and lightning storms but - ther's no place like home!
If you look at the picture of Butch - you will see he has gained weight - up to 166 pounds - low point was 155 - usually weighs about 180. We are very happy with the weight gain - he will lose about 20 pounds during the operation, so - weight gain is very important. Needs to do strength exercises in the next two weeks also , along with walking, etc. I think this includes painting the shed!
I am not sure of the length of the operation - quite lengthy, I do know, but , if everything goes well, he will be in the hospital 7 to 10 days. We can come home - hopefully - after his two week check up, and do follow up here. We will have to go to Pittsburgh every 3 months for follow up - CT scans, etc. Dr. Gamblin and his 2 associates did 2000 liver oeprations last year, so - he certainly has a lot of experience. This includes the liver operations for the liver transplants - there were people staying there at Family House who were waiting for transplants - you have to be within 4 hours if a transplant comes up for you.
The picture of Butch is in front of Family House - we were waiting to catch the free shuttle to the hospital yesterday. After all the preop testing, we left and came home - got home around 1:30 this morning - drove thru some pretty bad thunder and lightning storms but - ther's no place like home!
If you look at the picture of Butch - you will see he has gained weight - up to 166 pounds - low point was 155 - usually weighs about 180. We are very happy with the weight gain - he will lose about 20 pounds during the operation, so - weight gain is very important. Needs to do strength exercises in the next two weeks also , along with walking, etc. I think this includes painting the shed!
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