Wednesday Update

June 11, 2008
by Judy

This has been another eventful day! In the morning, Doreen and Carl's best friends for over 60 years, Lois and Dale Brown, came to visit. Their daughter Deanna and her husband Brian Harley also joined the get-together. It was a good visit and allowed the best briends to share stories and reminisce. After the visit, however, Doreen was quite tired, and she said later that the visit was not very satisfying--not a surprising assessment when a visit is spent flat on the back! The physical and occupational therapists were somewhat relaxed because of her exhaustion. Although the visit contributed to the lack of energy, it was not responsible in and of itself. Being easily tired out is par for the course. After the visit, Carl accompanied the Brown family to visit Timbercrest Retirement Community in North Manchester.

Around noon the surgeon returned and looked again at the incision. He continued to be concerned about the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid, so he recommended another surgery to take care of the leakage. This surgery went very well. He replaced some of the membrane around the brain and felt confident that it would take care of the leaking. (The replacement was treated pig membrane--making Doreen literally "pig-headed," according to an unnamed daughter.) He also did not see any bulging, which would have indicated an excess of fluid. So the assumption is that the fluid was leaking but not building up excess pressure.

When Doreen returned to her room around 7:00 or so, her eyes were wide open, and she was talking about what was happening. Her dinner had come while she was gone, and she thought that the root beer float she had asked for earlier sounded really good. She drank much of it. She said her head hurt some, but she seemed to feel good otherwise. Because the surgery involved the cerebrospinal fluid, she needs to remain flat for 48 hours in order to avoid a bad headache. That means that she needed to drink her float through a straw while lying on her side. She also asked for something cruncy and salty, but that is not yet her diet. It would be good if these requests are a sign that her appetite is improving!

We are hopeful that this surgery will help Doreen move ahead faster, although we will be happy with just steady progress. The support of the many people who have called and written and included her in thoughts and prayers is a big part of her healing!