A quiet Sunday afternoon in the ICU and I'm thankful! Daryl has had 1-2 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep this afternoon (probably the 1st extended sleep since surgery). He got up just after Noon today and was walked around the ICU unit. I think he did a fantastic job! He is still not getting rid of the fluids as they'd prefer him to, but his blood pressure remains OK so they're watching him. We'll remain in ICU tonight and I'm glad, because the level of care is much more detailed and well-monitored.
Margaret & Woody (Daryl's Mom & Step-Dad) left after lunch to start the two-day drive home.
Thank you, those who have been leaving comments and/or emailing Daryl. So far he hasn't stayed "awake" long enough for me to read them to him, but I intend to. In the meantime I tell him who has called and/or written to check up on him.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
ICU Night #2
Daryl's pain is much better this evening - they gave him a different kind of medication which seems to work better. His body is sending lots of fluids to his belly to "fix" it, and because of that he has needed more IV fluids to keep his blood pressure elevated. So he's staying in ICU tonight with hopes of getting to a regular floor sometime tomorrow.
If you'd like to send Daryl a card while he's here, please send it to our hotel and I'll deliver them. That way when he's discharged yet still in Baltimore for a week or so, he can still receive the mail.
Homewood Suites
625 S. President Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Daryl Abney - Room 651
Will post an update tomorrow - goodnight!
If you'd like to send Daryl a card while he's here, please send it to our hotel and I'll deliver them. That way when he's discharged yet still in Baltimore for a week or so, he can still receive the mail.
Homewood Suites
625 S. President Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Daryl Abney - Room 651
Will post an update tomorrow - goodnight!
From Bed to Chair at 5:30am
Now I'm an 8-hour per night kind of gal when it comes to sleep. Last night was a 4-hour night, so if I doze off...z...z...z...z... I woke up extra early to come in for Daryl's required steps out of the ICU bed at 5:30 this morning.
Friends, let me tell you, his pain last night after surgery was intense. Just trying to breathe was a challenge, but he was such a trooper. This Whipple surgery is VERY invasive. The Surgeons poked, prodded and cut the pancreas, liver, stomach, lymph nodes, gall bladder and more. His lower ribs were spread for 6+ hours along with his whole belly. He has an 8 in or so incision straight down the middle of his belly. Makes a c-section look like simple headache....I'm proud of him for how he's handling it all.
Anyway, this morning his pain is much better and we are so thankful to the Lord for His favor in providing an excellent ICU nurse overnight. She was meticulous, a great "explainer" and also good at pushing him a little bit. She moved him into a reclining chair, where he'll be required to stay today until (a) he is moved to a regular floor, or (b) around 3:30pm.
Still trying to make him comfortable enough to relax his muscles, which may require more or different pain meds.
If you're standing with us in prayer, I'd ask that you pray for him to relax and that the "pressure"/pain he is experiencing would be properly treated so he CAN relax. Pray also against the nausea that he's experiencing, which he hates worse than the pain.
The Surgeons feel he is doing really well overall - thank you for being "here" with us in thoughts and prayers. Daryl's parents are headed up so I can go back to my hotel for a late-morning nap. Will update later today. God Bless you.
Friends, let me tell you, his pain last night after surgery was intense. Just trying to breathe was a challenge, but he was such a trooper. This Whipple surgery is VERY invasive. The Surgeons poked, prodded and cut the pancreas, liver, stomach, lymph nodes, gall bladder and more. His lower ribs were spread for 6+ hours along with his whole belly. He has an 8 in or so incision straight down the middle of his belly. Makes a c-section look like simple headache....I'm proud of him for how he's handling it all.
Anyway, this morning his pain is much better and we are so thankful to the Lord for His favor in providing an excellent ICU nurse overnight. She was meticulous, a great "explainer" and also good at pushing him a little bit. She moved him into a reclining chair, where he'll be required to stay today until (a) he is moved to a regular floor, or (b) around 3:30pm.
Still trying to make him comfortable enough to relax his muscles, which may require more or different pain meds.
If you're standing with us in prayer, I'd ask that you pray for him to relax and that the "pressure"/pain he is experiencing would be properly treated so he CAN relax. Pray also against the nausea that he's experiencing, which he hates worse than the pain.
The Surgeons feel he is doing really well overall - thank you for being "here" with us in thoughts and prayers. Daryl's parents are headed up so I can go back to my hotel for a late-morning nap. Will update later today. God Bless you.
Friday, March 20, 2009
It is Finished
The Surgeon just spoke with us - Daryl should be in ICU in about an hour. Surgery went well. The tumor was about 2cm and well contained. Daryl lost about 3% of his stomach because of the way his blood vessels were configured - Surgeon thought he would do better to remove part. The lymph nodes nearby were enlarged, so they were removed...although the Surgeon didn't feel any tumors in them (we'll wait for pathology to confirm that). Praise God the Portal Vein wasn't impacted, so it remained intact. And he didn't need any blood transfusion - another praise!
Daryl will be in ICU tonight and tomorrow. Haven't seen him yet, but he'll have three drainage tubes coming out of his stomach area. He'll also have tube down his nose and probably 3 IVs. He's got a slow recovery ahead of him and probably a lot of pain for the next few days.
Will update later this evening if there's any more to share. Thank you for praying us through surgery!
Daryl will be in ICU tonight and tomorrow. Haven't seen him yet, but he'll have three drainage tubes coming out of his stomach area. He'll also have tube down his nose and probably 3 IVs. He's got a slow recovery ahead of him and probably a lot of pain for the next few days.
Will update later this evening if there's any more to share. Thank you for praying us through surgery!
6 Hours and Counting
We're still waiting. Daryl's surgery began a 8:15...our hourly "updates" tell us that he's doing fine. Should be soon when he's finished and then it will probably be two hours before he's settled enough in ICU and able to receive visitors. Long day....
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Prep Day
Daryl wants you to know that "bowel prep" stinks! And for those of you who know him well, I've spotted at least 2 new Johns Hopkins ball caps in our hotel room already.
Daryl learned more yesterday at his pre-op consultation about what to expect after surgery. His expected hospital stay is 10 days. The pathology results of the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes may take a few days, so we don't expect an immediate answer about whether the tumor is benign.
Daryl learned more yesterday at his pre-op consultation about what to expect after surgery. His expected hospital stay is 10 days. The pathology results of the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes may take a few days, so we don't expect an immediate answer about whether the tumor is benign.
After he's taken to surgery, we probably won't even see Daryl tomorrow until at least 3:30 pm. so look for an update later Friday evening. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your prayers and thoughts!!!! God Bless.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
How's Daryl Doing?
So many are asking me, "How's Daryl doing?" this week ...thank you for all of your concerns and continuing thoughts and prayers!
Daryl is working, feeling good and looks just as healthy as can be! We're in a holding pattern right now with another two weeks of waiting. He's working a lot of days before he leaves trying to preserve some time off for when the Baby comes in July.
Right now we're planning for Daryl to leave for Baltimore on Tuesday the 17th. He has pre-op bloodwork at Hopkins on the 18th and must get "prepared" for surgery on the 19th with an all-liquid diet. I'll join him on the 19th and help him with final preparations, then we'll head to Johns Hopkins for surgery check-in at 5:30 a.m. the morning of the 20th.
Right now we're tying up loose ends here at home, trying to clean up the house before the Grandparents have to come live in it for a while, etc. Thankfully Little Miss "C" has gotten over her Strep, so now it's just the cough and runny nose we need to clear up. She's a funny one - we'll miss her a lot while we're gone!
Daryl is working, feeling good and looks just as healthy as can be! We're in a holding pattern right now with another two weeks of waiting. He's working a lot of days before he leaves trying to preserve some time off for when the Baby comes in July.
Right now we're planning for Daryl to leave for Baltimore on Tuesday the 17th. He has pre-op bloodwork at Hopkins on the 18th and must get "prepared" for surgery on the 19th with an all-liquid diet. I'll join him on the 19th and help him with final preparations, then we'll head to Johns Hopkins for surgery check-in at 5:30 a.m. the morning of the 20th.
Right now we're tying up loose ends here at home, trying to clean up the house before the Grandparents have to come live in it for a while, etc. Thankfully Little Miss "C" has gotten over her Strep, so now it's just the cough and runny nose we need to clear up. She's a funny one - we'll miss her a lot while we're gone!
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