Friday is looking up

Dear Friends,
Nan is talking on the phone, that is always a good sign. She was doing much better when I got here this morning at around 7 am. Soon after I arrived she wanted to walk so around the floor we went, strong and feeling pretty good. The doctors had already removed the vac. sponge this morning so Nan has a wet to dry on it right now.
A little later in the morning a doctor from interventional radiology came. His visit was very insightful and answered many many questions. For example he explained that when a nephrostomy tube is installed they include a circle of the tubing inside the kidney which can only be released by turning a tiny device which is located down the line on the outside about 8 inches. I always wondered why that device was there. He said it is almost impossible to dislodge the tube out of the back by accident. That gave me some relief because we are concerned about the tubes being accidentially jerked out.
The doctor also told us that if the tubes had been inserted here they would need to be replaced now. That is every three months or so. He also told us that there is a process where the external tubes can be internalized safely. We may consider this in the future, Nan would love to get by without the tubes and bags always in the way.
Dr. Morgan was here with us and explained several things. He went into great lengths to explain how Gleevec worked in resisting tumors and then how Rapumune assisted in resisting tumors. He also insisted that we make an appointment with a high quality surgeon in California, perhaps someone at UCSF or Stanford. He wants us to be "friends" with someone good just in case we need follow up assistance due to the extensive surgery. That is very good advice.
There is general concensus that Nan's current partial blockage is due to the many meds they gave her to try to slow the output of her colostomy. Everything that was done was for her good but it backfired a bit. She is back on a liquid diet and so far has had hot teas, broth, Italian Ice and is doing well. Dr. Bertagnolli was just here and like usual was full of information about the surgery. She gave us the name of the top oncology surgeon at UCSF who is a personal friend and will become our contact when we go home if something needs attention.
It now appears that Nan will be released on sunday from the hospital and we may very likely go directly to Roxanna and Ricks house for a brief stay, then back on Wednesday to see doctors in clinic and then ready to head home on thursday or friday. We will have to see how things go. Nan will need to try solid food tomorrow to see if that works OK. She is really doing much, much better. She was delighted to have a visit from Amy today, our lead ICU nurse. What a great help she and her team was in caring for Nan

Please pray that God will guide us over the next few days. Dr. Bertagolli is doing a seminar in Colorado next week so I think we just saw her for the last time on this trip. We will see her again in two months when we come back for follow up CT scans. We are so thankful to God for his blessings and help in every way. We are very thankful to each of you for your help, cards, emails and financial donations. You have helped us through an impossible situation!

Please have a nice evening, we are being hit by thunder and lightning right now and heavy rain, glad we are not outside right now. Marilyn has put off her trip home back to RI until the weather improves.

Please have a nice evening, we send our love,

tim and nan and marilyn