The Latest

Yesterday was overall positive news.  The CT scan done Monday showed the GI team a better view of the partial bowel obstruction, and the scan did not seem to indicate a new major tumor issue.

The GI doctors late yesterday afternoon inserted a stent into mom's colon with the hopes of opening up her partial bowel obstruction. This endoscopic procedure took more than two hours.  It will take some time to see if this works; over the course of the next few days the stent will slowly open.  It seems more than likely the doctors will do another endoscopic procedure at the end of the week or early next week to see how much of an opening the stent is providing and to place another stent a little further up in the colon. It would be a great sign during the next few days if she could move her bowels on her own. This would hopefully go a long way in releasing the great pressure of the fluid and air in her digestive tract. 

Last night after the procedure the NG tube draining her stomach was not working properly so mom was up most of the whole night. The three of us with her at different times throughout the night, Katharine being with her for the most difficult part.  They moved her to a private room today so she could get more rest.  The medical care there continues to be very good - not only smart and competent doctors and nurses, but also very caring. Being at the hospital makes us even more in awe of the family and friends in our lives who work in the medical profession.