Ten Days after Surgery, 8pm

Anne looks great tonight, with red cheeks again. She is getting up and down now when she needs to. It is painful and she's more out of breath, but it's improving steadily. She still has a hard time trying to breath deeply. It will be at least 3-5 days before she will be able to do that.

Anne had a nice day of rest today. She said she may have slept 5 hours today. Not straight thru of course.

Yesterday was such an extraordinary day that just about everyone paid the price being tired today.

Her right lung lining may be all finished draining fluid !! It looks like it hasn't drained any since 2pm. Her right lung liner has drained some since the last reading at 3pm. If one side stops draining, they can remove the tube on that side. Anne says they'll take an xray and make sure before removing any of the tubes.

The incision in Anne's neck is healing. The dressing is changed twice daily on schedule. It's a big gash there now since it had to be opened up because of the infection. Dr. McGillvary came in at 7pm while the dressing was being changed by Nurse Jenn. He put gloves on and stuck his finger right in there, which caused Anne some pain, and he did that to make sure there was nothing pooling or collecting in there. He said it looked very good, and the Nurse said it looked exactly as it should. I may have already mentioned that Anne said it may take a month for this incision to heal from the inside.

The nurses have said that it would be ok for me to bring Dixie in to see Anne. I would if Anne wanted me to, but I just haven't had time to even brush her lately and get her all shined up. Anne said she also needs her nails clipped. Maybe Dixie won't visit the hospital after all. I don't exactly need any extra trips to town and back anyway.

Anne has been coughing alot, like a good girl, to clear stuff from her throat.

Anne is supposed to have another Barrium swallow test tomorrow. I asked her to get studying so she can pass it this time.

Anne wants to thank you all for all of your prayers, positive thoughts, and cards.

Ten Days after Surgery, 11:00am

Just spoke with Anne and she is sounding much better.

She is dozing in and out so far today and I think that is the best thing for her. She has been able to get up and out of bed this day, so that is a very good thing. She is bouncing back again.

My plan is to visit later on this afternoon, and watch TV with her tonight.

We ask that you please refrain from visiting for the next day or so, and rest assured knowing that Anne is on the rebound, needing to rest today.

Thanks for being there and for your continued prayers. I pray that the road smooths out going forward from here.

Ten Days after Surgery, 9:00am

Good morning,

Anne made it thru the procedure. They took her to Radiology at 10:45 and brought her back at 12:45. Anne was in much pain with the drainage tubes installed. Yesterday afternoon was a very trying time for Anne, and all of us present, and of course all those working on her case. I knew it was trouble when Anne's nurse went to get help from the charge nurse, then the charge nurse went looking for help from the nearest resident doctor. At one point there were perhaps 6 to 7 support people in the room when the pain was at it's worse.

Anne was totally uncomfortable following the insertion of the drainage tubes. At maybe 4pm she was more comfortable, and resting, however not moving a muscle. Lots of medications were carefully used yesterday. A large amount of fluid drained out from around Anne's lung cavity very quickly as soon as the tubes were inserted. Her chest, lungs, etc., went thru alot of change in a short period of time. The tubes brougnt great pain for Anne for a few hours with her lungs able again to move up in her chest and fill with air. These tubes go between her ribs and rest up against her diaphram and it wasn't pleasant, there was much concern.

Around 7pm when we adjusted her bed for her by lowering her head just a bit it caused Anne's pain level to go back up to a 10, but with meds and time, she settled down again and began to rest within an hour or so. Keep in mind that during the afternoon doctors worked hard to get her pain level to come 'down' to a 10 according to Anne.

She is going to be OK. Her breathing is difficult at this time however, and she'll need to rest, work, breath, move as much as possible and have patience to get better. No one is discouraged, she'll inprove but she will be in the hospital for 3-5 more days.

She has spoken with me twice this morning and she is sounding good, just a bit discouraged with the news of staying there for 3-5 more days. It really doesn't matter, just as long as she continues to improve and the doctors are able to fix her up.

We hope and pray that these setbacks, which Anne has fought to overcome, will be the end of the bumps in the road.