Update from Tom - FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2009 08:30 AM, CST

[Guest guest]

It's been a good 12 hours. I ate a full dinner last night, which is the first time in memory that I have eaten everything on the tray. The food wasn't even that good (normal for this place), but I still managed to join the clean plate club. I was also able to sleep for six straight hours, which is unheard of in this (or any) hospital.

The dressing over the drain openings was removed this morning, and nothing is leaking. The doctors want to keep that area exposed to air to help healing. There are four or five stitches there...still a bit painful, but the lack of a dressing makes is more comfortable. We can always cover it up if there is any seepage. The percocet is controlling the pain nicely.

I'm still pretty bloated, but the diuretic is steadily resolving that problem. This isn't painful, just uncomfortable, and I notice small improvements daily.The only open item prior to getting me out of here is the clotting issue. If today's blood test looks OK, I'm going over the wall. That's today's prayer request. I'll know the answer in a couple hours. I don't care if it's five degrees outside. I'm ready to leave!

A final interesting thought: The real star of this show, the new liver, has faded into the background because of all of the other complications. Larry gave me a part that has run without any problems almost from the moment it was sewn in. The latest scan shows that it is at its optimum size, leaks are resolving, and the liver function blood tests are all normal. It is wonderful that we have not had to pay much attention to it, and I am happy to keep it that way.

Tom

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