Two Days after Surgery, 1:30pm

Hi All,
Anne continues doing well today. She looks very good and very tired.

Anne has not been moved out of the 'Continuous Observation Rooms' section yet however, and she asked me to let you know that she'd prefer not to have visitors at least until she has been moved out of the COR area. I guess at this point 'rest' is the most important thing for her. She expected to be moved today, but there's been no indication that that is going to happen. Nurse Carrie said that maybe the other areas are full, if so, Anne is in luck, able to stay in her private room for now.

This morning she got some exercise by walking about 100 feet, so she attained that goal.

Right now Nurse Carrie is removing Anne's catheter, so Anne will be getting up and down more often now to use the bathroom. That's not only a good sign, but one less tube. Yeah !! I believe she still has a drainage tube, a feeding tube, an oxygen tube, and a fluid tube (which occupies her 'port'). There is also an IV set up in her hand which is not being used at this time.

Today the bandage on Anne's abdomen was removed, exposing the incision there. That incision is 8 inches long running straight up and down ending 3/4 inch above the navel. I'd call it a doozy. It's loaded up with staples, perfectly placed and holding the skin together.

Carrie said the incision in Anne's neck is held together with glue. That incision has some redness but it's fine, it's just from some tape or something. Carrie checked it for us and said it felt and looked just fine.

Anne has been using chloraseptic since she complained about the sore throat yesterday. You should have seen the look on her face the first time she squirted it down her throat. It's an understatement to say that first sensation quite surprised her.

I asked Anne if she can swallow and she said 'no'. We'll learn how that's all going to work sooner than later. One thing's for sure, she'll need to adapt with the absense of the esophagus. I think that could be Anne's motto....'Adapt and move on'.

Yesterday I asked Dr. McGillvary how long Anne's esophagus was. He didn't exactly tell us but he did say that when you cut the top of it and then the bottom that it shrivels up to almost nothing. How's that for a visual?

Anne has fallen asleep again, hopefully the Nurses will be busy for a bit. Ops, well not exactly, she's up and walking again with Nurse Diane. Maybe I'll catch a power nap while they're gone.