March 30 update from Ken

Two steps forward, one step back.

After Pam's surgery on Thursday, she has been doing well. On Friday, she got the oxygen tube out. The docs also removed the catheter(hooray) on Friday. She spent all weekend with no fever and no signs of infection (more cheering). Her spirits were up, she looked great and she was pestering the nurses and doctors to allow her to go home . . . . then Monday morning came.

Screeeeeeeccccchhhhhh. This morning she had a surgical procedure to put in the G tube for feeding directly into her stomach. It was a lot more painful that she thought it would be, and she remembers the whole thing . . . which consisted of a tube (camera) going through her nose into her stomach. This made her gag and vomit through her nose with the tube still in. Meanwhile, they made the incision in her stomach and apparently she did not have enough of the giggle gas, because she said, "It hurt like hell." She said it feels like she has a gunshot wound in her tum-tum.

Then they continued to inflate a bag at the other end of the G tube, and maneuver the camera, all the while she continued to lose her lunch again and again. Oh boy, what a pretty picture.  Her stomach muscles are torn and she walks on egg shells . . . hard for her to move at all. She also has a very low grade fever today, which is something we have to keep a careful eye on . . . very careful. She is a little cranky today, understandably.

Good news - we still may be able to bring her home tomorrow. They still need to train us on syringing food into her stomach, and how to adjust/replace her antibiotics through the IV. A "home nurse" will be coming to our house to also help us with these procedures and keep an eye on her incisions. All in all, she is still hanging in there like a trooper.

After some quick addition, I count 10 surgeries for Pam in the last 4 years. That is a lot for any person to endure. And she is still fighting. I told Cody last night that she is my hero . . . and he told me that normally its the man that's the hero. So much for societal stereotypes. Mom is the hero in our family.

I really appreciate and love all of you for your continued, unending and unconditional love and support. So thanks for loving Pam. Thanks for loving us. Please continue to pray that Pam will be home soon. That she will be infection free. And that the hole in her throat will heal, that she can eat food and drink soon, and that she can resume a chemotherapy treatment while maintaining the integrity of her throat.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Love you guys, Ken.