Monday

Ashley's blog says it all:
Monday, January 18, 2010
A blog I do not want to post
As much as I had wanted to blog today about going home, this update will be much different.

Dan finally got his CT around 1245 am! Luckily, the results showed that there are no large abscesses to "go after" surgically. There is some fluid rolling around in his belly, but they think it will begin to go away.

The bad news, though, came after the good. Dan's pancreas is leaking too much for the comfort of the docs. If Dan were not having more surgery in the near future, McGreeky said he would send him home with the drains and let the pancreas heal on it's own. However, with more surgery on the horizon, the surgeons want to be aggressive with forcing his pancreas to heal. Thus, Dan is again NPO. He'll be getting another PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line tomorrow to start TPN (total parenteral nutrition). He's lost about 20 pounds the past 10 days, so he's very behind on nutrition.

The plan now is to let Dan's bowels and pancreas rest long enough for it to heal. He will not be allowed to eat more than sips of clears until his drains dry up. The earliest this could happen in Thursday--the very earliest. Dan could go home on TPN if his body tolerates it well. It is becoming more and more convenient that I am in nursing school (and almost done), as I can do the dressing changes for his wound, his PICC and take care of the TPN.

McGreeky wants to be aggressive and cautious, making sure Dan recovers completely. He sees this as a definite setback, but one that can be repaired.

Dan and I are obviously disappointed that we are looking at least 5 more days of hospital life when we were first told we could go home today. Yet, he is in really good hands here and it is comforting to know that the docs are keeping such a close eye on him.

As for me, I am basically living here. I have a comfortable couch to sleep on and a kitchen to make soup and such. I'm going to try to canoodle my way into the shower room on the floor...washing my hair in the sink might get old after a while!

Dan needs some cheering up--that's for sure. He is feeling fine and will feel even better once his nutrition picks back up. That being said, please call or email or visit. As long as you aren't sick and call first, Dan likes a little company to distract him.

What will help most, though, are your prayers. Dan needs a lot of healing.

Prayer Requests:
* Healing of the pancreas--quickly and finally (drying up of the drains)
* Resolution of infection(s)
* Endurance and encouragement for Dan (and maybe me)
* Understanding of the nurses (they've been very accomodating thus far)
* God's kind of healing--the massive kind that shows that only He could have healed Dan
* Good news!
* God's glory through our actions

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satifies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103:1-5