One Month Out

Hi there. Mike here...

It's been a month since the surgery, so I thought I'd just post a little update. My recovery is going slowly but surely; I feel a little better almost every day. When I think of the state I was in at this time on April 2, well...I'm MUCH better now.

I'm up and around for the most part, but I do get tired easily and much of the day is still spent with things that take longer than they should: getting washed up and dressed, eating (still a time-consuming chore), managing the medications, etc. But I'm also starting to get some exercise, tapering off the pills, and beginning to see the humor in my circumstances. (And there's actually a fair amount of it if I just step back a little bit!)

Thanks again to all who have been in touch since I got out of the hospital. Your support continues to be a big help to my recovery! My next check-up with the doctor is May 7 and I'm expecting a good report. I'm really looking forward to getting back into the real world soon!

The sweetest words

Clear margins; lymph nodes negative.

Mike had his post-op follow-up visit today at the UW and we got the final pathology report (see above). After getting this awesome news, I realized that I had been pretty much holding my breath for the last 10 days waiting to hear the results. Thankfully we got the news we had been hoping and praying for.

The rest of the visit went well. Dr. Bhrany was impressed with how Mike is doing. He said the graft in the mouth looks really good. The graft on the wrist looks like it is supposed to. I hesitate to say that it "looks good" because, to be honest, it looks kind of gruesome! But the doctor assured us that it is healing perfectly. The last of the staples were removed from Mike's neck, and that entire incision is also healing remarkably well. Truly, if you didn't know Mike had surgery on his face less than two weeks ago, I don't think you would notice the scar on the chin. The doctors did an amazing job of reconstruction.

So all in all, today was a great day. Mike obviously still has lots of healing to do. He is sore, bruised, and definitely battered. I told him he'll have to come up with a really good story to explain all the scars - somehow "tonsil cancer" doesn't have enough oomph. I'm thinking something more along the lines of being kidnapped by pirates. Or perhaps a bizarre banjo accident?!?!?

I think the best medicine of all for Mike will come on Saturday evening when Aaron arrives home after 8 months in London. It will be such a treat to have him around the house again before he heads back to New York for his senior year at Sarah Lawrence. Both Mike and I are looking forward to hearing all the stories (at least the ones he is willing to tell) of his time in England, Morrocco, and France.

I think I will retire the blog for now. At some point I may write on another topic, as this was a fun way for me to keep in touch with people. Once again, we thank you all for your loving support through this whole adventure.

Home Sweet Home

Yippee!! Mike's home!

The resident corps swept in this morning before 6. They removed the cast from Mike's left arm, took staples out from the two graft sites and stitches from his chin, and rather unceremoniously declared - OK, that's it - you are free to go home! And just like that, the discharge plans and preparations began in earnest. We got the requisite training on wound care and dressing changes, set up a follow-up appointment for later this week, loaded up flowers and cards from the room, filled prescriptions, and drove home. HOME! What a good feeling.

Mike is settling into bed now, hoping to sleep well today (for the first time in over a week) and continue with the process of healing. I am going to take a nap so that I am clear-headed enough to write a paper that's due tonight (ack!) for my sociology class.

Once again, a huge thank you for all your love and support over the past week. I know that it contributed to Mike's remarkably speedy recovery.

Easter Sunday (this post actually written by Mike)

Just a quick note to wish everyone a pleasant Easter (though there's not much left of it by now) and to thank you for all the great good wishes and prayers over the past week! This post must be short because my super-powers are still limited, but I'm pleased to say that there's some hope that I'll be able to go home from the hospital soon.

My nutrition tube was removed today (another super-power regained!), and tomorrow they'll probably replace the cast on my left arm with a simpler splint and dressing. If we can sort out the details of how to get everything else done at home, I may get to "graduate" from the UW again (in a brand-new sense) tomorrow!

More on Monday, then. Thanks again, everyone!

Moving toward normal

So much for a quiet Saturday. When Dr. Bhrany came in this morning he announced that because Mike had done so well over the past 24 hours with the down-sizing and capping of the tracheotomy tube, he was going to remove it! We both felt pleased about this development, but steeled ourselves for a major procedure with much sterile prepping and draping, sedatives, stitches, and heaven knows what else. Dr. Bhrany then bent down over Mike, undid the straps holding the current trach tube in place, pulled it out and said, "Okay, that's done." And just like that, it was out! He then announced that Mike could start eating regular food today (well, clear liquids, but that's a start on the way to regular food!). So with each passing day Mike is getting closer and closer to reclaiming his pre-surgical self. Now if only he could get a decent night's sleep! Truly, he is doing remarkably well and recovering at an amazing pace. The doctors and the rest of the staff are continually commenting on how great he looks and how well he is doing.

I don't think there is anything else planned for the rest of today or tomorrow in terms of Mike's care, but I will update with any news.

A breath of fresh air

Good news - - Mike had his trach down-sized and capped, so now he can really talk. Following the changes, the doctor asked Mike to practice talking by saying "1-2-3" and "hello", which Mike did.

His next sentence: "I sound like Truman Capote."

And, he does :-)

But, he's talking, and boy does that make him feel more like himself!

Otherwise, things continue to progress very nicely and the staff is really pleased with how he is doing. I don't think much is going to happen over the weekend, just resting and healing. I anticipate a flurry of activity on Monday.

That's it for now. Thanks again for the notes, cards, balloons, flowers, offers of help, and many good wishes! We both feel blessed to have such wonderful support from each of you.

Evening update

It's 6:30 and Dr. Futran and Co. came by for the nightly visit. Mike had, and passed, his final flap check. Everything looks great and the surgeon is very pleased with the progress thus far. Here's a preview of the next few days:

• Down-sizing the trach tube to a smaller size (step #2 in preparing to remove it)
• Getting rid of the cast on the left arm and replacing it with a splint (looks kind of like the carpal tunnel splints you see on cashiers at the grocery store)
• Starting on swallowing liquids

If everything keeps going so well and stays on track, Mike could be discharged early next week! That was certainly welcome news.

Many of you have been asking about me and reminding me to get some rest and take care of myself while I'm taking care of Mike. In an attempt to do just that, I asked the nurses for something other than the single straight chair that is in Mike's room, hoping I could get some sleep without having to leave the hospital. The nurses kindly found me a medieval torture device reclining chair, so I was able to catch some z's during the day today. I'm thinking about heading home late tonight to sleep in my own bed, play with the animals, pick up some clean clothes, collect the mail, etc. I'll just see how things go here before I decide. It has been great to be able to crash at John and Nancy's place in Wallingford, and they have spoiled me with all sorts of goodies.

I will post at least once tomorrow with any updates/changes. Mike says to tell everyone hi and thanks for everything!