UPDATEFROM kATHY re:TOM - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2008 07:39 PM, CST

[Guest guest]

Time for the last update of the day. Tom continues to progress. They pulled out the breathing tube around 5PM, and he can now talk to me. It's wonderful! His regular liver doctor stopped by, and she was very pleased by how he looks. She said it was amazing how well he was doing for someone who had a transplant less that 24 hours ago.

They've started him on a blood thinner. I see this as a good sign because they were waiting to make sure that the cut portion of the liver had healed a bit before they started the heparin. It is normal procedure to put him on an anticoagulant because there is always a risk of clotting at the connection sites. They performed a couple of ultrasounds of his liver today, and the results must have been good because they are moving forward on his treatment. I haven't really had a chance to ask his doctors about the results of the ultrasounds, though.

His only complaints right now are a terrible backache from the hospital bed and pain at the incision site when he tries to take deep breaths. He has also had a steady increase in his blood pressure today, but the nurse said that was probably just due to the fluid retention he has from the IV fluids. She said they were going to reduce the fluids a little...hopefully that will help his blood pressure.

Larry (the donor) is doing great. He is cracking jokes and enjoying visits from his family. He is really a terrific man with a wonderful family. Please continue to hold him in your prayers.I'll be back in touch sometime tomorrow. God bless all of you for your concern and your prayers.

Good night!Kathy