Monday February 27th , 9:45 a.m.

Papa is still making good progress.  He is enjoying being on his soft diet, and has been eating well with not much nausea.  Dr. Breaux now has his duodenal drain clamped in addition to his g-tube.  This will require his stomach and intestines to work a little harder, but once he can tolerate both of these tubes being clamped off, they will be able to start pulling the drains out.  Still dealing with the VRE bacterial infection, but it doesn't seem to be affecting his progress , although he has been a little more tired lately.

Friday February 24th, 8:45

Papa is getting stronger each day.  As of yesterday, his doctor changed his diet to regular food.  Last night was his first meal consisting of chicken with pasta and carrots and a couple of vanilla wafers for dessert.  He enjoyed his food and kept it down.....no nausea and his g-tube remained clamped.  This means that his stomach is healing where the bypass was done and his food is going down into the intestines.  He ate again today , all three meals and has done well.  His renal numbers are lower each day.  They have removed his medi-port used for dialysis.
Now the not-so-good news.....The  infectious disease doctor has taken a culture and discovered that Papa has a bacteria coming from one of his drains.  It is contagious with contact, so anyone visiting him must gown, glove and wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.  The bacteria is contained in the infectious fluid coming from the last drain that was inserted a couple of weeks ago. The bug is called VRE,  (Vancomycin resistant enterococci).  It is treatable with certain antibiotics, and although it is a serious infection, it is common in the hospital setting.

Monday February 20 th , 3:00

Papa continues to improve.  Numbers from renal labs are still getting lower, almost within normal range!  So dialysis is not needed now and hopefully not ever again...in fact they will be removing the medi-port soon.  He is still getting up and walking during his physical therapy.  His drains are still producing fluid.  He is still on clear liquid diet.  The surgical wound, left open to heal from the inside out is doing very well.  He had lots of his buddies come to visit today, which I am sure lifted his spirits.  Thank you to everyone for your continued concern and prayers.

Friday February 17th

Good news today from the renal physician. Papa did not require dialysis!  He said that if his renal numbers stay this way he may not ever need it again.  Hope and pray this is the case.  Papa was so excited!  He is still on a clear liquid diet, and he is still having bouts of nausea (due to the clamping of his g-tube) Dr.s say it will just take a long time for his stomach to heal and for him to be able to tolerate food.  Thank you all for your continued prayers!

Thursday , February 16th 5:30 a.m.

Papa had dialysis Monday afternoon and again on Tuesday morning, and was worn out Tuesday afternoon.  Physical therapy tried getting him up, but he was so tired and his blood pressure dropped, so no p.t. on Tuesday.  He had bouts of nausea and vomiting Monday afternoon and night.  Tuesday night was better, he slept well and was in a good mood yesterday morning when I visited him.  Still on clear liquid diet.  Not sure if he will require dialysis again today ( more than likely will).

Just talked to Mama...she says Dr. Breaux has ordered a CT scan for this a.m. in order to replace a drain that is not emptying well.

Monday February 13th, 10:10 a.m.

Papa had an uneventful weekend.  Had dialysis on Saturday and was tired afterwards for the rest of the day.  Sunday was good, got lots more sleep.  Today so far, he has had physical therapy.  He walked from his bedside down to the hallway,  and down the hall a little bit, sat and rested, then returned without rests.  He sat in a wheelchair for about an hour , while Libby and I gave him a haircut, shampooed his hair and shaved him....(not without him complaining and asking us to hurry up!), but it was a much needed improvement.  Wound care nurse is coming in to take him down to the hyperbarics physician to assess him.  White cell count has risen a little from 15 to 18.  His renal labs are still a problem, so for now he will still be going through dialysis.

Friday February 10th 9:30

In Papa's room with him..p.t. just came, got him up and he walked (with help of a walker) from his bedside into the hall....rested, then walked back!  He is now sitting in his chair drinking his breakfast.  Yay!