Do you know this woman?

All I know is that I'm glad she's in my gang! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday Carl

Today is the birthday of Carl Mantegna, my father-in-law. Happy birthday, Carl!

(this is birthday week for my family; more to come...)

Back home

But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
- Tolkein, Lord of the Rings



I feel as though I have reluctantly, yet willingly, completed a successful journey. Or at least a significant portion of the journey. Tuesday night I reclined in my own bed and slept well for the first time in nearly a month. Lyn Ragan's sister Anne and her husband Tim drove us back to Dallas on Tuesday evening. We enjoyed getting to know them and are greatful for the generous help in escorting us back home.

Pictured here are me and Dad having coffee and dessert last night. (The beard is a result of not getting around to shaving since the surgery!)

I am still quite weak and Christine still has her cold. But we are so very glad to be back in Dallas. Christine was so excited to be home Tuesday night that she actually had difficulty sleeping! My recovery will continue until the 26th, when I must return to Houston to likely begin chemo.

Incidentally, does anyone in the North Dallas area have a recommendation for a physical therapist? My doctor suggested I go to one to help regain my abdominal muscle function after these surgeries. Please email me directly if you have someone to recommend.

Steadily gaining strength

My strength is gradually improving each day. On Thursday, we spoke with Dr. Vauthey's PA, Steve Wei, and they decided that I did not need to come in on Friday and that I could go back to Dallas anytime after this weekend. We are currently planning on driving back with some friends on Tuesday. I am so ready for my own house, my own bed, my own chair, my own dog. We left in a hurry before Christmas and it is hard to imagine that time. The surgery and recovery have made Dallas seem like the distant past.

Christine has come down with a virus of some sort. We just can't seem to get ahead these days! We are discouraged at the situation and hope that this does not get severe or last long.

Every day, I have been trying to do something to get myself out of the house. Thursday night, my friend, Pat Roach, took me to see my alma mater, Rice, play basketball. Pat and I met while we were both attending Westminster Seminary. Pat serves in a college ministry serving Rice students through Christ the King Church. Saturday afternoon I went to see another game with Nils and his son Matias. Rice is looking pretty tough this year. They are 11-3 with two of their losses being rather close calls to #1 U-Conn and #4 Stanford. Go Owls! Today I went to church and enjoyed worshipping with the Rasmussens and Sarah Shay. The past few weeks have given me much for which I am thankful.

After any outing, I come home and crash. Right now, I'd say I have about 3-4 hours of energy in me every day. The liver is regenerating fast, based on what they know about how it heals. Steve Wei told me that my blood counts confirm strong growth of the liver. I should be back to full strength by the end of February.

That is, other than the fact that I will begin chemotherapy soon. My next appointment, during which I will likely begin another round of chemo, is January 26 - only two weeks away. That soon?! They don't mess around with cancer at MD Anderson. I suppose that's fine by me.

Update - better the last couple days

I began emerging from the pit yesterday with some more strength. Today I don't feel quite as strong as yesterday, but I am so glad not to be where I was the first half of this week. They told me there would be good days and bad - I hope the worst are behind me. I am far from full strength, but it is good to feel alive again.

The test results showed I do have a recurrence of c-diff bacteria, which should pass in a matter of days. So really two things are going on - the bacteria (digestive problems) and the typical liver resection recovery (fatigue, pain). Today, we hear from the doctor as to whether I need to return tomorrow to meet him. Also, we should find out if I can travel back to Dallas soon.

Fatigue

This recovery is grueling. They said at some point I would begin to experience "extreme fatigue" as part of the liver regeneration process. I now know what they were talking about. I often cannot even raise myself to watch television or read. And yet, sleep is extremely difficult to come by. Both of us have slept very little in the past three days, which included one night at the ER. No word yet on results whether I have additional problems than simply being someone who just lost three-quarters of his liver. They say this fatigue could last a month or two. Oh, that the days would zoom by faster. As it is, each minute just creeps by. Lord, have mercy.

There And Back Again

Greg did, in fact, end up visiting the hospital last night to address his high temperature. The current thought is that he has the same bacterial infection that sidelined him in late November, but they won't know for a few days. Greg was released this morning and he and Christine are back resting at the Ragans' house.

Please pray that:

The doctors would identify the problem and treat it quickly.
Greg would continue to heal and his pain would subside.
Greg and Christine would be able to come back to Dallas soon.
After a long night without sleep both Greg and Christine would be able to rest today and tonight, and that Christine in particular would not feel the effects on her body in terms of fibromyalgia and migraines.

Also, please refrain from calling the cellphone for the rest of the day so they can get some rest.