Still Ahead of the Norm

Hey Everyone, It is 8:03pm on Friday. As Traci told you yesterday Alan still has 2 of his chest tubes in for drainage. He is still draining more than they want him to be when they take him off them. Also, the left lung has not inflated as much as they would like for it to and the drainage cylinders pump air into the lungs as well as remove drainage. They did a bronchioscope yesterday and told us this morning that he has a little bit of infection in one of the lungs. The doctor that came by today did not seem concerned. The are sending a tissue sample to the lab to find out exactly what is causing the infection and how to best treat it. Meanwhile, they are giving him antibiotics. She also said that sometimes the lungs will be a little slower to expand, but that will come if Alan does everything he is supposed to do. He had been on thickened liquids and soft food, and today he was told he could eat and drink normally. He is doing everything he is supposed to do, breathing exercises, walking several times a day (3 2/3 miles today, or 66 laps around the hospital hallway, coughing to get everything out of his lungs that shouldn't be in there, asking for pain medicine before it gets unbearable, and so much more. Everyone that meets him is quite taken with his spirit, determination, and sense of humor. We probably won't be going home over the week-end, so we will just have to wait and see. God has brought us this far, we know he is with us.

Traci is with him tonight at the hospital. I stayed last night, so I am tired and going to bed soon.

I have been reading your emails, and it means a lot to hear from you. I have not been very good at responding, because when I come home and read them I am pooped and going to bed for a nap so I can get back to him. Please keep emailing us though, because when I come home the first thing I do is check emails and go to the mail box. It lifts our spirits to hear from you. When he gets home, I will have more time. I hope all of you are well. Judy