Man on a Mission

Things are looking good today. Brian has announced this morning that he is going to start eating so he can get stronger, and get rid of the hated scooter and wheelchair. He wants to be able to walk up and down the stairs (I would still like our house to sell), and he wants to be able to get back to therapy. He has really perked up in the past 24 hours.

I didn't post this last night, but the drain wasn't draining. We could see it and knew. The surgeon came in the evening and talked to us about the fact that the team had drained about 120cc off of his knee area, and that this drain was well placed, but didn't appear to be draining. The plan was to talk in the morning, and he put Brian on the schedule for surgery this morning to cut it open and clean it all out. Around midnight, the nurse came to let us know that Brian would be NPO (nothing by mouth) starting at 4 a.m. so he could be ready. Super.

Then I checked it around 12:30, and the tube was completely full! We were shocked. I stripped the tube to see what it would do, and it just filled right back up. It is an accordion-type drain, so I made sure to keep it pushed it to keep the suction going, and by now it has drained over 150cc of a red, puss-looking crud. So when the surgeon peeked back in on him this morning (the nurse had told him), he was very pleased and told Brian that this was great news. Dr. Miller came back in to evaluate him, and felt confident that this was going to do the trick. The plan is to rescan tomorrow or Thursday to be sure there are no other pockets that aren't draining, then go from there.

The attending physician stopped in and was happy to see how good Brian was looking this morning. We have finally go his pain at an acceptable level. I just moved his leg around to reposition it, and it is the first time in weeks that it hasn't sent him through the roof. The pain meds on top of the infection draining has made the difference we had hoped for. His plan is to follow what Dr. Miller's plan is regarding the leg, then when that is under control, they will send Brian home on IV antibiotics and oral pain meds. I won't speculate when that will be, but it is a realistic few days away.

Brian is clearly feeling better than 12 hours ago. He is starting to joke around and is cracking his nurse up. She has been his same nurse on 7am-7pm, now for the 5th day. She's a traveling nurse, and Brian has quizzed her about everything. We really like her, and she has been a good Christian witness to him also, regarding how he is feeling about his condition. I guess God puts in place all that we need.

I am really missing the kids. Tye is home sick today with Denise. He made me sing Farmer in the Dell on the phone last night, and now he has asked me several times if I will come to his house. It breaks my heart. Now that Brian is feeling better, he is really missing the kids too. I have decided I need a break, and now that Brian is out of the woods for now and feeling good, I'm hoping to get out a little. I want to do a little Christmas shopping, as I've already found it difficult to get time to do this and to be able to handle much of it emotionally. I also hope to catch a cancer support group held at the Guest House tonight.

Thanks for your prayers over last several days. They have worked and have helped keep us strong, and God has truly held Brian though a very difficult time, as always.

May all you do always glorify God,
Jenni