The tour continues

This a picture of Daryl with his college fraternity brothers, Jeff and Chris. They were on a “tour” of an  island, very few Americans visited then, but is open to Americans, for now.

Friday was another stop on the  “Daryl goes to the doctor tour”. We saw Dr. Mansfield first, he scoped Daryl ( which is putting a thin tube down his nose to get a better look at his throat) and the swelling is going down. One vocal cord is working well and the other is still lagging in movement.  His airway is still at risk but seeing good  improvement, tracheostomy is on hold, for now!  Daryl will continue on steroids and antibiotics and we will visit our favorite Dr. again on Wednesday.

Next stop on our tour was to see a new oncologist, Dr. Kossman.   We are becoming pros at filling out paperwork! Our trick is to download all the forms and complete prior to arrival. (amazing more people cannot figure out this pearl of wisdom) This saves time, shortens the exposure to all the waiting room people  and always puts a smile on the receptionist face :).  Dr. Kossman  is a very gregarious oncologist, which is refreshing! He stated “I looked you up in the computer and expected, to see when you were admitted for your  trach. This is a pleasant surprise!” He confirmed our Radiation Oncologist had done the right thing by “blasting” Daryl with radiation. He cited a  seven-year study  by the VA to validate.  ( for us medical folks, it was fascinating!)  He is extremely knowledgeable and laid out the two plans. Plan A- cancer is back, surgery is then needed. Plan B-  no cancer, damage  is from radiation, need for long-term antibiotics and HBO. This does not mean for Daryl to binge watch HBO, it stand for Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments. This is a chamber where they place you in a high oxygen rich environment  for 2-3 hours  to promote healing.  HBO is  used to help heal wounds, after the “bends’ in scuba diving and by some athletes.

Goals:

• To continue to decrease swelling to perform a biopsy without having to have a trach. Go steroids, Go anitbiotics!
• “Fatten” up Daryl.  His g tube has been leaking so we at doing smaller feedings. Daryl has been drinking glucerna, “pine-mosa’s”  and has eaten some chicken McNuggets! Maybe if he continues to be good a Happy Meal!

Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes! It means everything to the Lu’s!