Welcome!

We hope you find this blog helpful and useful in keeping up with Mom's progress as she recovers from her most harrowing experience yet. She sure knows how to keep her friends and family alert and free from boredom! And, we write this assuming you know at least some of the story up until now. If not, please let us know and we will post a play-by-play account of the past several days, as they will forever be etched in our memories.

Please leave comments if you so choose, and we will be sure she hears them, or we will answer them if you have questions. We have tried to keep everyone as up to date as possible, but we are discovering that may require us hiring a secretary just to manage the calls and messages, which of course, we welcome!

We are all so very appreciative of your support, thoughts and prayers during this time!

Mom's progress thus far has been remarkable. She is looking better, sounding better and is talking up a storm, which includes ordering us around. We know she is on the path to recovery by that fact alone.

Today, Mom had her first non-liquid food, yogurt and chicken noodle soup, dutifully served to her on demand by Dad. She definitely lets us know when we are providing food and drink too slowly. Her voice sounds better and she is more alert and able to start putting the pieces of her experience together, which upsets her but she is also very thankful for the prayers.

She is still puffy from all the fluids, but we are assured that will eventually subside. Circulation to her leg is good and her vitals remain consistent. She has had some bleeding, but the doctors are not concerned at this point. It is either old blood or something that can easily be taken care of. She has not needed more transfusions since Saturday's "adventure." She also has some fluid around her lungs, but that is being addressed through medication. She is needing less oxygen, which is great, and can talk more easily without running out of breath.

We are not sure how long she will be in the Critical Care Unit at MD Anderson, but will probably be another few days. They hope to move her around soon, which will help with some of the fluid retention. She is still very weak physically but as you know, is very strong-willed! After that, she will begin physical therapy. We anticipate she will be hospitalized for quite a while.

All in all, her doctors are so pleased with her progress thus far. Risks now include infection, pneumonia, and lung and/or kidney issues.

Carolyn