HOME SWEET HOME

After meeting all the goals for being discharged from the hospital .... pass gas, BMs, walking the hallway on your own, eating real food (not jello), the doctor and his physician assistant told Larry "Get out of here before you catch something serious." So by 12:00 we were on our way home.

By 2:00 we were walking in the front door. We've already made even more modifications to the living rooms and bedrooms but each day the getting up and down from the bed to sitting to standing will get easier. He discovered today when the dressing was changed that he has 27 staples and an incision 12-14" long. Impressive. The surgeon said in all his 16 years of surgery he had never seen such strong bone. Glad he is such a great surgeon.

You will not hear much from Larry on his computer for a while. Sitting is just too painful. He will be doing lots of sleeping and walking with his walker to regain his strength. BUT he will be telling me what I should write...........he's always more analytical with the information than I am.

Thanks for all the emails wishing him well. Home never looked so good!

Judy

DAY 3

I arrived at the hospital this morning at 8:03 to find Larry sitting on the side of the bed and in good spirits. His pain pump had been removed. One line down.

True to form, Dr. Roth came in to see Larry at 7:29. Larry was a bit anemic from blood loss, so he wanted Larry to receive his autologic blood that was not used during surgery. (That took 4 hours.......15 minutes to donate it but 4 hours to get it back.) The dressing was changed on his back and he discovered he had 27 stitches (staples). Wow!

Finally, at 2:30 all his lines and connections were out. Larry being Larry, on his first walk outside the room he walked the entire length of the orthopedics hall in both directions. Great effort.

With all his parts working again, he has high hopes of being discharged tomorrow. The Superman on his chest has begun to return gradually. Home will make recovery much easier.

Judy

I'M BACK!!!

This is going to be short since the WiFi here in my room at Beaumont is about two words per minute. I'm detubed -- ah freedom!

Larry

DAY 2 -- OCTOBER 28, 2008

Today was a tough day. The wonders of the surgery drugs had mostly worn off and Larry was in a lot of pain all day. He did sit on the side of the bed for lunch (jello, broth and juice) and several other times. Also he was able to walk with help 20 feet and back. A lot of sleep during the day helped him to fight off the surgery insults.

Tomorrow will be the first day on the road to recovery. A couple of pictures of Superman posted on the window remind him that the "S" will be reappearing on his chest soon.



Thanks for all your emails with good wishes.



Judy

Day of Surgery October 27, 2008

I'm writing this at 10:15 p.m. It has been a very long day. The alarm went off at 5:00, check-in at the hospital at 5:45. After the long pre-op meetings with nurses, anesthesiologists, surgery nurses and surgeon, surgery finally began at 8:29. The surgery was completed at 1:25.

Then began the even longer wait. Because the orthopedics floor was full, Larry was kept in recovery until 8 p.m. He and several other orthopedics patients had to wait til some medical patients were moved and rooms cleaned. Scot and Laura kept me company and finally agreed to go home after seeing Larry in recovery.

The surgery went well. They did not have to use his blood that he donated ahead of time. The surgeon said that there was lots of bone (very hard bone) in his spine impinging the nerves. He used Larry's bone, some donor bone and some bone marrow taken from his hip to fuse L1, 2 and 3 but no rods or screws.

Larry seems to be doing well. He is on a pain pump and hooked to miles of tubes so tonight may not be too restful. I am surprised and pleased to see how good he looks after such a long surgery. The doctor said we will probably get to go home Thursday.

Thank you all for keeping Larry in your thoughts today. Goodnight.

Judy

12 Hours To Go

Sunday, October 26, 2008 -- 8:00 p.m.

Today was Larry's last day to drive for 3 months. From now on I will be "Driving Mr. Daisy." This hotel will be my bed and breakfast for the next few days.....only 3 miles from the hospital.

Judy

Almost ready - 33 hours to go

Everything is high--expectations, bed level, toilet seat level ... you get the idea.

 

The weather forecast looks terrible, but who cares. We will be inside until it warms up to 60 on next Thursday-Friday.

 

 

This blog came in from email as a test.

 

Judy