C - Day + 6 (Wednesday) -- Discharge Day - 1

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah
Zip-a-dee-ay
My oh my what a wonderful day.

10:15 am
Jennifer did well with the capped trach, so they removed it around 6:20 this morning. About an hour later, they removed the two drains.

I got to initiate some medication through her feeding tube, and start a gravity feed. I think I did really well. She may disagree, but it was exciting.

All we have to do is wait for the plastic surgeons to remove the splint on the arm, assess the progress and train me on wound care in this area.

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!


4:30 pm
We finally met with the plastic surgeons PA. She undressed the wound on the arm. If you're not used to looking at a skin graft, then it will cause you to stare. In order to prevent blood from accumulating under the graft, they put holes in the skin that's grafted--I.e. the blood drains out. If you've been fortunate to have a mother or grandmother that has baked a pie (or you yourself are a great baker --I like apple pie), then you may put the little diamond shaped slits in the crust. This is what the grafted skin looks like. It will heal over time, but it's a shock to look at if you are unprepared (I kinda was).

The PA said everything looks good, gave me instructions on dressing the wound and indicated she's issuing the discharge order. We get to go home. Alright! Jennifer has been waiting. Don't get us wrong. The nursing staff has been excellent, caring, and great to work with (other than the one episode, which I didn't encounter). Doctors have been great, but we're tired and ready.

However, with Houston traffic, I think we'll wait a couple of hours...the trip will be an ordeal. It's just as well. It may take the that long to put our discharge supplies together. I'll be a roving drugstore full of bandages, drugs, feeding equipment.....glad I brought my truck.

The only thing I forgot to bring we're some sweats for Jennifer. She has the clothes she arrived in, but I forgot the sweats. She told me to get them. I thought they were in a bag I brought in later...and it turns out they were not. I'm sorry Jennifer. That was my oversight.

I'll come back later to this after we endure our trip and I'm able to get Jennifer settled in.

6:30 pm....change of plans. The tube feeding is causing nausea, so the recommendation is to wait overnight for observation. Discharge is changed till tomorrow. I apologize for the change of plans, but the goal is to take care of Jennifer and this is what's best.


O Saint Peregrine, you who have been called "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you Jennifer. Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing praise to God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.