“The Waiting Game”

Some of you may be familiar with the classic TV show “The Dating Game.”  There is a new version we are playing called  “The Waiting Game”.

Let’s meet today’s  contestants:
Contestant number one: Hails from the kidney arena. I will work with Daryl’s kidneys  to ensure he is peeing enough and not retaining extra urine. (residual left)  I will make the  nurses decrease the  bladder  ultra sound checks. Pick me and  I will make your pee!
Contestant number two: Hails from the small bowel arena.  He has had some “passing of air” for the first time.  Pick me and I will make the  dream of number two come true for you!
Contestant number three: Hails from the pain pump arena. We are getting some relief and the pain pharmacist is a daily visitor. Contestant number three can interfere with success of contestant number two, but the doctors are monitoring both  closely. Pick me and your pain is a push of a “green button”

Daryl brought in a consultant, my Dad, for advice. (see picture above) This picture was taken while they were attempting to locate Half Dome in Yosemite. FYI, It is directly behind them. In this Waiting Game the choice is all three contestants!
All fun aside . . . The goal is to have Daryl’s small bowel start to work normally.  Once that happens we can begin to restart the tube feedings. The surgeons want his small bowel to be healthy and to start working normally before surgery.  This will allow for a good circulation and success for an optimal transplant.  Currently his only nutrition is thru the TPN in his IV. His endocrinologist says he is in good nutritional shape via the IV.
He has been sitting in the chair and beginning to take a few strolls outside the room. With bowel normalization  he should be able to go home and gather strength for the big surgery which will now be delayed through the first week of December. Attempting the procedure in his current state is not a  viable option as he would probably not survive the operation of that duration and magnitude.

Please excuse my humor, but sometimes it is the best medicine when explaining our current day-to-day goals.

Thank you again for all the prayers and well wished. They lift our spirits every day!

Love,

Daryl and Charlotte