While we are still waiting to find out what the doctors want to do about Dan’s liver and gallbladder, he is making physical progress on his own! He is more alert than a week ago and doing more with his body. It’s been wonderful to see him improve little by little, day by day. Today the OT had him sitting on the edge of the bed for 25 minutes – I missed it, but she was quite impressed!
I spend a good part of my day helping Dan with exercise every other hour, depending on what’s going on. Hospitals are notorious for interruptions and often what we plan on accomplishing is overridden by hospital karma. Every time Dan tries to take a nap someone pops in for one reason or another. Just now the dietician came in with a special treat for Dan – her own homemade no sugar, low carb chocolate chip peanut butter cookies! She’s a sweetheart for finding a quick solution to one of Dan’s biggest cravings – chocolate! He can’t have milk chocolate but a little dark chocolate is okay with the doc. So he’ll be scarfing this down with some soy milk later! Oddly enough, he’s been hooked on watching the Food Network almost daily. When I ask him if he’s learning how to cook for me he says, “No, I just like looking at the food!”
His diet was bumped up a level again today – allowing him more of a selection of foods to eat. I think it’s the food that’s been making the biggest difference with his recovery. Every since he’s been able to start eating, he’s been gaining awareness and stamina. Today was the first time I was able to explain to him what he’s been through the last several weeks and he was able to comprehend. It was overwhelming for him to realize March is gone and he has no recollection of the time. He was shocked to hear he was in ICU for two weeks on a ventilator and on continuous dialysis. It was emotional for both of us. Yet at the same time, I told him we can’t dwell on what was; we have to move forward with care and determination. If I know Dan, he’ll be more motivated to get the hell out of here sooner.
Until then it looks like he’ll be getting a liver biopsy tomorrow to rule out graph vs host there. It’s a painless procedure that only requires a local antesthetic. Thank goodness!
Meanwhile the gallbladder is huge and they may decide to either drain it or take it out 
It is filled with sludge from him not eating and laying around for a month. I sure hope they don’t have to operate – enough is enough and we’ve had enough!
(By the way, this entry was by Janice Limbaugh – I don’t know how to edit the author.)
April 10, 2009 at 3:56 pm |
Our prayers are still flooding your way daily. It’s good to hear he’s eating more food.
We’ll continue to hold him and you up in prayer.
Love to you both,
Cari and Mark