Sorry, blog watchers, that I have not added my updates to my blog. I have just been emailing them out to "The List". Someone reminded me that I have not updated this site for awhile. Well I have been busy traveling to Israel with 51 others (including 30 amazing students on Elliot's robotics team that competed in the Tel Aviv competition. More on that later.
Dan was basically doing fine when we left and then ended up in the hospital with a small bowel obstruction. His NG tube got pulled out today (YEAH!) and he is drinking sips of clear liquids. So far so good. I am copying his and Ashley's blog (www.footballandstehoscopes.blogspot.cpm) so you can hear from their hearts. God is merciful and has spared Dan another surgery for the obstruction. Please keep praying that all will continue to resolve smoothly and he will get home soon!
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
Dan and Ashley's blogs Friday, Sunday and today:
friday, march 19, 2010
Stuck
Things that prompted this title:
The NG tube stuck up my nose
The fact that I am stuck to the wall when the NG suction is on
Sometimes my NG tube gets stuck because of all the mucus
The fact that I am stuck in the hospital, with little progress
ESPN is stuck on March Madness right now
My bowels are stuck
I am really not a fan of this time. Not counting follow-up appointments, I have spent 41 days in a hospital this year, or 52.6%. And still, I wait. With a tube up my nose.
Granted, there is so much to be thankful for. I have made a lot of progress on other areas physically, but it's so easily masked by another setback that puts me in the hospital and not even able to eat the little cups of jello and drink the plain chicken broth. At least I get ice.
Before Ashley and I got a private room, I was in a shared room, and had 3 different roommates. The first was a guy with no legs who got transferred to a different floor and was later discharged. The second was a younger post-op who went home like the next day. Both complained about the food (because it is popular to complain about airplane and hospital food--I will never complain about either ever again). At least I have legs, right? My third roommate was an old Indian chap who was able to eat, but slowly. His wife and family were extremely nice and I felt really bad that I had to transfer out while rooming with him, for fear of seeming like we didn't like them. Whenever I walk by my old room, if I see them, I wave, and they wave back like I was part of their family too. They remind me of my Indian neighbors back at Biola. How I wish to see them again and eat their yummy chicken.
But really, I'm not obsessed with food. I think. The point is, 52.6% is too much. 41 days is too much. I'm done. I want to get on with my life and be normal again. I haven't taken a regular shower since January. I want to eat a home-cooked meal by my wife and gain weight and muscle mass back. I want to be at home for more than 2 weeks at a time and be with my friends and church family. And hopefully, I will soon. I'm hopeful that this will pass (and praying for it to not be surgically-induced). I'm praying that this will be the last complication, even for the upcoming second surgery in June. I've been on this ride too long, and it's time to get off. But wouldn't you know it, I'm stuck. Which is why I need God's help getting out. May He have mercy on my body.
sunday, march 21, 2010
Patience
So, we didn't blog yesterday. I was busy writing a paper all day, and Dan didn't really feel like it. However, don't feel like you missed a lot.
Dan had an x-ray yesterday and it looked a little better than the previous one. McGreeky came in and told us that a few loops of the bowel are still distended, but that the distention is decreasing (Thurs: 6cm diameter, Sat: 4 cm, Normal: less than 3cm). The obstruction is still there, but hopefully it is beginning to resolve. When we asked about what the obstruction is, McGreeky said there is really no way to tell just from a CT. However, the main options are still surgical adhesions or an internal hernia. Regardless, the plan of care remains the same: wait patiently for as long as possible. Though the obstruction could be fixed through surgery, Dan is not a good surgical candidate right now. Accordingly, McGreeky (and the other surgeons consulted) do not want to be hasty about making this a surgical issue.
(My blogging was interrupted by a victorious Dan announcing the passing of gas! Normally, we wouldn't post this, but it has been a prayer request. So, that means this is a praise!)
The NG drainage is still a lot, but is thin and light which encourages the doctors.
(My blogging is again interrupted by the doctors coming in.)
Between the NG output being light and the passing of gas, McGreeky has decided to put the NG to gravity with a drainage bag for a day to see how Dan does. If he can stay the day without being nauseous or vomiting, they'll start giving him fluids tomorrow. If not, they'll put the NG back to suction for a couple days. Once the diet keeps advancing, it will be the true test to make sure Dan can tolerate the food and that the food goes all the way through the system. An x-ray tomorrow will determine whether or not the NG gets pulled all the way out. So, it's a big day tomorrow.
I am unfortunately leaving for school today and won't be back until Tuesday night. Hopefully, I will be missing some exciting events so that when I get back, Dan will be eating a bit. It will be nice to get some school work done and to gather more clean clothes from home. It will be even nicer to get back to a happier, healthier Dan!
Luckily, Dan is able to talk better with the NG tube, so he can communicate to the nurses without me around. Also, he knows the signs to alert the nurses to quickly. He's a smart guy, so I trust he will be intelligent about his care. He wants himself to get better even more than I want him to get better! Though, somethings will be more difficult without me here--washing up, motivation to walk around, asking questions of the doctors, and remembering what the doctor says. It really isn't a matter of preference for Dan to want me here, it is actually very helpful for both the doctors and my husband. Sure, we can be apart when necessary, but when my professors are working with me so patiently and ensuring my graduation, why wouldn't I want to be with Dan?
Anyway, this has the potential to be a very exciting day or a very disappointing day depending upon what happens with Dan's GI system. We are hoping and praying this is indeed the turning point for Dan's recovery.
Prayer Requests:
* Complete resolution of the obstruction without the need for surgery
* Continuation of passing gas, bowel sounds, etc.
* No further complications!
* No nausea or vomiting or increased belly pain
* Safe travels for me (and the girls driving me down to school
* Peace and confidence in the doctors for Bob and Jamie
* Wisdom for the doctors to watch the progression
* Successful food trial this week
* Ability for Dan to come home with me very soon!
* Good news and encouragement for the rest of this hospital stay...may it be short!
Posted by Dan and Ashley at 9:24 AM
monday, march 22, 2010
Good news is good, you betcha
I like good news. Get ready for some.
There was zero drainage in my gravity-induced bag and my x-ray looked good, so this morning the doctor pulled out my NG tube! At first, my nose was extremely confused. My throat hurt a little bit, but that only lasted a while. I feel SO much better now. As of now, my new diet is sipping on clear liquids. If that goes well (which it is so far), I can drop the 'sipping' part. And advance as possible after that. It feels good to taste things again, and also to not be confined by my nose. Pray that things continue to go well!
Ashley is back at school. It's sad that she wasn't here for the gloriousness of the NG being removed, but there will be plenty more good times for us to share in the future. Unfortunately, tonight she is headed to the ER to check out some belly pain that has been off and on in the past months. Pray that nothing is wrong with her so she can make her scheduled flight on Tuesday night.
Well, I need to go because the battery's dying and I'm due for a walk around the unit. Keep praying-- I am encouraged by all of your prayers. Hopefully tomorrow I can give some more good news.
:) /\ |\|
Posted by Dan and Ashley at 3:21 PM
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