One MONTH!

As Paul Harvey would say, " And now for the rest of the story....!"

While I wrote last night, my mind was very much on another event unfolding a few miles away in the Native Hospital ER.

When Isaac, Pete, and I got home about 11 p.m. Phil and his girl friend Kacee were having a late dinner of steak. Phil looked a bit peaked, and admitted to Pete that he had "followed his example" and took five Aleve tablets. (Pete says that when someone asked him why he took five excedrin at once, he told them "because I can't swallow seven."

Then Phil noticed on the bottle that it says "no more than 3 in a 24 hour period." (Phil has a pinched nerve in his lower back or something...causing pain down his leg and in his hip.)

Pete decided he would take Phil to the ER, but before he could, Phil started "vomiting"....with nothing coming up. He wretched so hard that the blood vessels in his face around his eyes, on his upper cheeks, and on his forehead burst...so he has a "purple rash" there.

At the ER, the doctor said the overdose of Aleve wouldn't really hurt, just DON"T do it again. But when Phil con't. to vomit with no results, the doctor had him take a drink of water. It wouldn't go down. She told Phil he had an esphogeal blockage.... So while I was writing to you, and later pacing the floor waiting for some word on Phil...and getting more and more sleepy....Phil was getting ready for surgery. I did get to talk to Pete about 2a.m. and discovered that surgery was in the plans for Phil. I went to bed because I HAD to, but I woke up at 6:30 and found the boys were not home...so knew he must have had surgery.

Pete called me about 7, I got showered, Pete came home and showered...and we began our hospital "rounds."

Stan was due for surgery at 12:30. I wanted to be there. But first I needed to be sure my "baby" was okay. He was so sleepy. He is in room 413, but will hopefully be going home tomorrow. He missed a class tonight, and has his Master Class test tomorrow if he gets "out" and is able to play his sax.

Phil did manage to drink a couple of sips of water while we were there....and they did go down. So we gave him a kiss, met Andy for some bfst before I got sick....and headed for the next hospital.

Phil's blockage was the only bite of steak he had taken. It was so difficult to get out that the surgeon had to bring in the "big guys" to dislodge it...meaning, after trying the nice easy flexible "grabber" and failing, she used a rigid "pipe" that required securing his head in a position that made the trip thru his mouth to his esophagus a straight line. She told Pete it was VERY difficult to get out. She is pretty sure the bite was stuck because of some scarring that occurred when he was a toddler. At 14 months he was helping Julie unload the dishwasher and scooped up some of the dw soap that had disolved but not washed away (activated lye)...and proceeded to eat it. Nursing him probably saved his life or at least his esophogus. We spent the day in the hospital while they put him out and took a look. The doctor must have missed seeing a burned spot back then. The diagnosis then was that if it was burned they would have to replace it with a piece of colon.

They are going back "in" tomorrow to take a better look at what is there. So he is lounging in bed in room 413 tonight.

Back to Alaska Regional....Stan had a good night. Preparations for his surgery began in his room. They brought in a couple of "crash carts" etc...a flouroscope and screen...whatever it is where they can see what is going on inside. After everything was in place, including the assistant doctor, the "prima donna" walked in and ousted me!! (I shouldn't call him that...he was so nice...but it is so funny. Hey, he had on an absolutely lovely necktie that complimented his peach colored shirt perfectly!) Instead of the "half hour or less, don't go far" time, it took a little more than 45 minutes. But he said all went well. My boys weren't at all curious to see the tube....but I may very well be having to feed him, and I wanted to see it. The doctor also left me two sheets of pictures... so if you are curious, just ask. I'll show you. Again my very very big boys opted to NOT look at them. LOL

There is a light on a tube that goes thru the mouth into the stomach and locates the place closest to the outside of the body and farthest from other vital parts. That is where a 1/2 inch incision is made. Then the feeding tube is inserted thru the mouth to that incision spot and out thru the incision. There is a "button" on the end of it that fits inside the stomach against the wall of the incision area. The tube is pulled thru the incision and another "button" is placed on the outside of the stomach. He was taken off the nose tube at midnight last night, and won't get anything into the stomach tube until tomorrow. It will stay in him for at least six weeks...even if he gets where it isn't needed anymore. That is because it takes that long for the area to scar together...stomach and outer wall... so that when the buttons are removed there won't be a gap between where food could escape into his innards. Aren't you glad for a layman's biology lesson!!!

This will be much easier for him and his "feeder." Many people live active lives with them intact.

The doctor (intensivist) said his lungs are healing, and it looks like they will be taking him off the ventilator soon, and putting him just on oxygen thru his trach. When that happens, he will probably be transferred to PCU or to St. Elias long term care hospital. I do not know if I make that choice, or they do. You'll have to wait for that installment. (So will I.)

What numbers he still has "going" are all continuing to be very good. The BIG question is his head!!! If he will just PLEASE wake up and show us he is "there" all will be wonderful!!

There are lots of other entertaining things going on in his room, but I am not sure how "graphic" I should be. After all, you ARE a mixed audience! But suffice it to say, bags ballooning up to where we fear they'll pop, does keep us awake and hopping.

We are still going with the injection site theory of his spots....they are not getting any better or worse right now. We are watching new injection sites to see if they develop these blotches.

Pete was going to cut his toenails, but didn't get it done. And now he is on his way to the airport to go to Carson City / Reno to take care of some needs there. He will be back, probably after Christmas with his family.

New people keep coming to the CCU.....the beds that were vacated are full again. A lady in the waiting room whose husband had heart surgery today gave Isaac a hand held Poker game. She cried when I thanked her and told her about his mom. I told her that gift showed him that there is still unselfish love around. She was helping Yupik Johnny find a phone number in the book. So while I am spending more and more time sitting in Stan's room hoping for some sign of waking, she has taken on the task of helping Johnny thru this confusing place and time. God IS good!!!

Phil will be fine. He may have to have some corrective surgery. Stan WILL be fine!!

Lane and Leigh did get to Tulsa to collect Jeanne. They have decided to NOT do the last chemo. That seems to me to be a very wise choice. I hope their trip was not too hard. I am assuming they are home now. I hope she is enjoying the first night in her own bed since the last of August!!

I think that Roger is no better, maybe worse.... I am getting my updates third or fourth hand.

Please let us all pray for him and these others.

Love, M

---