Day Twenty Part Three

11:23
Don's surgery lasted until about 8:45. We were told he would be in PAC-U (post anesthesia care unit) for about an hour. At 10:30 no one had come to talk to us or called to let us know anything. I went back to surgery and no one was there. A surgeon passed me in the hall and asked if he could help. He directed me to the intercom for PAC-U. I was told that Don was on his way to his room. When he arrived in his room I told the recovery nurse that no one had come out to talk me. She could not tell us exactly what had been done. Don seems to be in a better state of mind. He came through the doors to the trauma unit wiggling his finger on his just operated hand to say hi and he was smiling. He had been a little silly - which is way better than the last time. Maybe that one doctor might get out of sitting with us - LOL! He was very hungry so at 11:30 he ate chicken and dumplings that a friend brought by this afternoon. The food was made by her grandmother who is also a friend of ours. Don says he is in a good bit of pain on his hand. I can only tell that they have a pin coming out the end of his thumb. Thanks for all your prayers. Oh yeah, they came by to talk to us about rehab and it looks as if Don will have to go to a nursing facility when he is able to sit up by himself. He doesn't like that at all and told me "Don't fight me on this. I want to go home and I will do much better once I am home". They said when he is able to move himself from bed to wheelchair, he will then either go to rehab or home - it just depends on how well he is doing. If he goes home he will go to rehab as an outpatient. If he goes to rehab, he will have to stay there for a while. Please pray that Don will accept whatever needs to be done. I don't want to have him upset but there is no way that I can lift him and do for him until he is able to help a little. Even if Donnie Lee or Kristi were at home with me 24/7 I still don't think the two of us would be able to do what he will need done. The other day it took five of us just to set him up and try to get him to a chair - which were unsuccessful in doing. Once he can help himself, I will be able to do what he needs done - at least I think I can and am willing to try. He wants to go home so bad. Just pray. I know it seems that everyday there is something new to pray about. But I do thank you for praying! And I thank the Good Lord for all he has blessed his with to this point! We are so blessed!! Please just keep praying.

Day Twenty Part Two

7:05 PM

They took Don into surgery at 6:30. When the anesthesiologist came back to talk to us, he told us that Don could not have a block on his arm. He said he had too many factors against him that could cause more problems (swelling, infection) and that he would have to be put to sleep. The doctor promised that he would stay away from the drugs that had caused a problem. I asked the doctor if he was going to come sit with me if Don has the whole fear thing going on again and he said he would if he had too. Don't think I won't call him - LOL! They just called at 7:20 to say the surgery started at 7:00 and things were going well. We may not get another update. They may just call to say that the surgery was completed. Just keep praying! I will update when surgery is finished.

Day Twenty

1:14

Don said had the best sleep last night since he has been here. He was up several times and took the oxygen off a few times just before daylight. We finally got up about 7:00 as I had a meeting in Lincolnton. His mother fed him breakfast. He had her to make a sandwich out of the piece of toast with the eggs and bacon on his tray. He is not allowed to eat anything else until after his surgery. He is to have surgery on his left hand about 5:00 tonight and it should only take a few hours. They took him down about 11:00 to take his central line out and put in a pick line. He just came back from that about 1:00. This new line will serve the same purpose as the central line. The other meds they gave him last night to release the fluid seem to have worked. I haven't noticed that the swelling has gone down much but I can tell a little difference in his feet. They tried a bipap machine last night but Don said it was just to strong and was smothering him instead of helping him. They said they would try to adjust again tonight and see if that will help. I will try to update again after the surgery tonight. Please pray that everything goes well!