The short sweet message is that the surgery is over, Jeannette did well, and she will be recovering on the third floor at Providence.   The reports I've heard are all good, and good news is easy to share. -- John[...]

Sitting at home, very early in the morning, I find I am wide awake for a multitude of reasons.  At the top of the list is probably the jet lag from a recent trip to the orient, but also there is the news and anticipation of this day that I want to pass to those of you who come here to catch the latest.   When I saw Jeannette earlier today to me she looked like her trooper self--Rich was there watching everything, monitoring the doctors and the nurses as they go about their daily tasks.   [...]

This is a very short update--partly because I'm not currently in town, and so I'm not in a great position to do an "update" but there are a few things to share.   Jeannette's very important leg surgery has been postponed until 4 Nov.   That was no doubt very frustrating for Rich, and for Jeannette too, but basically the doctors need to make sure she is ready for the surgery before they do it, and I think they want to make sure before they go "IN" that there are not infections or other issues that might mess things up.   Unfortunately, it took a while for the doctors to make their decision, and so Rich and Jeannette spent much of Monday waiting around, trying to find out if the surgery launch was a "GO" or not.   [...]

I've havent been keeping up with the updates as promised, partly because the news has been so up and so down that it almost seem things are changing before the first words can be written.    I think since the successful surgery to repair the small hole in the "fistula?" the hope has been that she would continue to get stronger, and with her headed home after it has succedded things seemed to be moving in the direction to finally put this all behind her.  But, of course, NOT SO FAST!   A few little "not so minor" things popped up, and like NASA working the moonshot, each of them needs to be addressed and solutions figured out.   But, where to begin?[...]

Jeannette is heading home to Willow. The big plan is to enjoy a fire in the fire pit. [...]

Jeannette is doing very well today. She got two walks in around visits from her many well-wishers.  She is on a regular diet and the nausea appears to be under control. Dr Clancy, infection control, said that if she keeps her food down, the PIC line can come out. Dr Kavanaugh has ordered a bone scan to find out what is going on with her left leg. It is now a tad shorter than the other and has been giving her some pain. X-rays have not shown anything wrong. The scan will be either this evening or tomorrow.  Hopefully, it will allow the Dr to pinpoint the problem and do something about it. Jeannette is looking forward to returning to Willow SOON![...]

Great news. Surgery went very well. Dr George was well pleased with her sewing skills.  Closed the fistula. Jeannette has arrived in Room 434 at Prov on her space age air bed.  Check in with Rich or Sam tomorrow on when Jeannette can receive visitors. [...]

Breaking news. Jeannette is headed to Providence Hospital at 5:30 am on 3 October for a 7:30 am fistula repair operation.  She just received word from Dr George's office. She will remain at Prov for about 4 days and the either return to St Elias or, hopefully, return home to Willow.  She is enjoying visits from Debbie, up from Minneapolis, Sam up from Seattle, and Glordine from Willow this afternoon.  Updates as there are new developments. [...]

It's been a long time since I've made an update, and because of work commitments and family commitments I was gone from Alaska for several weeks and a lot has happened that should be shared.    The crazy roller coaster ride that has defined the healing experience has continued with its ups and downs, and there have been days of excitement and brightness and other days of despair.   The big, single over riding issue has been and continues to be the very small (and I mean tiny) hole that is leaking somewhere in Jeannette's stomach/intestinal track.  The wait-and-see plan of action, i.e. the "let nature heal it" seemed to be working, and after months of not eating real food and several weeks of no seepage she was cleared to start eating again and things looked great.  At first things seemed to be going oh-so-well, and there was serious talk of letting her out of the hospital to finally go home.    There were the familiar nausea sessions, which have to be worked around, but still things seemed to be on track for a homeward bound journey.   In fact, as of a few days ago the plan was looking like that could have happened tomorrow!    [...]

The latest with Jeannette's right wrist is this: she is wearing a brace, it hurts pretty bad, X ray scheduled next Thursday, the previous surgeries were such that all the hardware is keeping everything aligned. The story about the broken ulna was due to the staff reading an X ray result from the accident!  There are so many small bones, they can't really tell yet if anything is really broken. The plan is to keep it immobilized and wait. No surgery. Jeannette is in good spirits and she had good physical and occupational therapy. [...]