This is something that Paul wrote this afternoon:
Ha. I’m on 5 East. That’s where I was in Greenwich.
Today is Saturday 2/28. Pain is well controlled, but I have monitors and drains limiting my motion. Pluses include a CD/clock radio just like I wanted and KUOW on the hospital TV. Futran came by at 3:45. Examined the flap very carefully and went away satisfied. He said we’d move to a regular room tomorrow.
Now my job is all about healing rapidly, and smoothly.
To clarify: Greenwich refers to the hospital where Paul was treated for lymphoma in the early ’80s. He spent way more time on 5 East there than he will at UW. The “flap” is the term for the tissue from Paul’s forearm that Dr. Futran used for the reconstruction of his tongue. Examining it means checking for blood flow to the flap (that microvascular healing that Paul’s visualizing). How do you check for blood flow? Poke it with a needle – if it bleeds, it’s good. (Let me just say that it’s Not Fun to watch a doctor stick a needle into the tongue of my already way too poked and prodded and cut up and sutured husband. Some small consolation knowing that he can’t feel it.)
I’ve been telling Paul about all of your emails, phone calls, blog comments, etc. He occasionally tears up as I tell him about something that someone has written or said, and this evening he wrote, “It’s really nice to hear about all those folks who care about me.” Keep those virtual cards and letters coming; they mean a lot to both of us.
Late this afternoon, Paul’s nurse had him up and sitting in a chair for 1 1/2 hours. She said that he did really well, and had no problems getting out of bed or sitting for that long. Tomorrow: walking, and the big move out of the ICU into a regular unit room (on 4 Northeast, I think).
I hear cats thumping around in our bedroom. Time to give them a little attention, and then get some more sleep.