Hospital Happenings

It's day four at the hospital for Adam (or day eight if you count last week's stay at Doernbecher). Things are looking up, and we are looking at the possibility of going home tomorrow. Maybe. You never can say for sure with these things.

Yesterday Adam had the tube taken out of his nose. Today he got his epidural taken out and his urine catheter. He started drinking clear liquids again last night and has had four feedings of formula today. Our nurse said that he's healing up much faster than the previous two Kasai patients she attended.

The big topic of conversation after a surgery like this is--of course--poop. Adam pooped. Several times. It was green and dark brown. This is good. It means that the bile is starting to flow from his liver into his small intestine. Our surgeon took a picture of it as a teaching tool for the residents. I did not take a picture of it, so you will just have to imagine what it looks like.

It's much too soon to say if the operation has been successful but the early signs are good. When Adam goes home he'll be on steroids and antibiotics for a long time, a year or more. His condition needs to be monitored regularly, and we will have dozens of follow-up appointments with different specialists. I'm pretty sure that "going to the doctor" will be a large part of Adam's life for the next several years, but scads of medical appointments are a small price to pay for the gift of being alive.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Adam, a lot happier now than he was after the operation on Monday.

Adam, enjoying his dose of morphine.

Meanwhile, Oliver enjoys his vacation at the Hayes home...

...and successfully convinces Aunt Amy to let him pose for some pictures.