Sweet Reunion

After our longest time apart since I first moved to Washington over 16 years ago, Lee and I finally got to be in the same space together yesterday!  While the masks, tubes, pumps, and almost constant cycle of staff didn’t necessarily create the best “vibe”, it was a truly precious gift to reunite with my best friend of now over 35 years!

Lee’s surgeon came through to visit while I was there so getting talk with her in person and detail was also a blessing.  The doctor was very compassionate about Lee’s setback (the tube site continued having significant leakage anytime she got up or moved around yesterday) and was very honest that she’s both saddened and challenged by the latest setback.  She had ordered a CT Scan to evaluate the surgical area and tube placement in the hope that there was a specific abscess or other reversible cause for the leakage.  No such “smoking gun” was identified but rather evidence that Lee’s chronic lack of GI motility is likely causing back pressure throughout her intestinal tract.  

The current plan is to stop all usage of this new feeding tube for “quite a while” in the hope that as more healing occurs without interruption that it may more effectively seal up.  This will require a return to the IV based “TPN” for nutrition through her central line.  The surgeon also ordered some new injections directly in to Lee’s abdomen that are supposed to help stimulate her GI tract.  This is a treatment that Lee has undergone in years past and creates some pretty uncomfortable abdominal cramping, so you might imagine she’s not looking very forward to that so soon after surgery.  

The path and timeline toward coming home is still undefined but the primary hurdle to overcome before even starting to have that conversation is the reduction of the site leakage.  Prayers for this and maximizing the GI treatments while minimizing the painful side effects would be most appreciated.  As always, thanks for checking in and walking with us!

Steve