I'm HOME!
Hey Guys and Gals I SO appreciate all the prayers and kind words. When Rory (HDCOlt51) told my wife about all the support we were getting from all of you it really helped her, she told me I had a lot of people pulling for me.
HDCOLT51 thanks for updating everyone, you are a great friend.
I won't lie it was absolutely miserable, I begged God to take me the first and second night, I didn't think I could suffer through it anymore.
Not so much when I wanted it but when I needed it the most I received Grace.
On Wednesday I got that nasty NG tube out of my nose that helped me with being able to swallow. It was better then after the radiation had caused esophagitis. They also pulled the Foley catheter, those of you who have had one no how good/bad it is to get that out. It took me a little bit to feel confident that I now controlled urination.
I had a male nurse who was amazing, he let me add my med's to the tube and started letting me get up and down on my own, connecting and disconnecting all the wires, tubes, and apparatus. I started doing as many laps as I could around the unit.
I actually got stopped several times, the nurses were not used to ICU patients carrying their chest tube drain (they called it a suitcase) and walking around without escort. The nurses only have two patients and the ones who had me said I was trying to put them out of work LOL. This and our makers help started to give me more confidence that I could pull this off.
Thursday they pulled the neck drain and let me wear PJs.
Friday they pulled the Chest tube, that left a big nasty hole! I was starting to feel semi human now.
Today they pulled off everything else except the feeding tube and sent me home.
I'm sore as all get out, tired and still have a lot of recovering to do, but I can't thank everyone enough for all the support, prayers and kind words of encouragement!
One of the procedures is called a neck Disectomy (sounds weird like disecting a frog!) and the other was the esophagectomy.
The pathology reports came back and the lymph nodes they didn't remove were all negative and while I still have some Barretts esophagus they feel like they got all the cancer. Either way I plan to work on recovery and start living whatever time I have left at 100MPH.
God Bless you all!
Comments
Finally! Don
Welcome home, glad you are on the mend!
Great update; glad you're home and on the mend!
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Good to hear...stay tough!!!
Combat Vet VN
D.A.V Life Member
Great to see you home and posting. Take it easy for a few days.
Hey ole'paint I will give you a few days to rest then I will bring over a bottle of Blanton's for me and some Canadian Hunter for you since you can't taste it you won't know the difference.LOL You just said you are going to live life at 100mph I'm going with you so lets get started.HAHA!😁
Well, glad to hear about the progress to making it home!
Great news, and great work. Nothing is a motivating as when they start removing things.
Brad Steele
Hurray!
Great news..
May God bless you and yours. You have been through a lot.
Wonderful news. Welcome back. Get better each day.
great news
Welcome home!
100 mph might be a little over the speed limit until you are just a tad better, and do remember to slow down for water falls and sunsets. Glad the news is good!
Good for you.........hope you continue to have a speedy recovery.
Good news is always welcome.
Glad your home.
Welcome home. I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery.
gotta agree with all the above, but better keep it to the speed limit for a few days.
You will continue to be in my prayers as you complete your recovery.
They can't keep a good man down! But don't push it too hard, take your time and heal completely.
Great news. Wishing you a full recovery.
Good for you! Now get healed up so you can share some more memories with us.
👍️
Prayers continue from here Bill. God bless you.
Its amazing how quickly you are progressing along.....wonderful! I hope you continue to feel better and better.
Good news. Enjoy what you can and be patient with yourself, healing takes time.
Glad you're home Bill! I hope and pray that each new day finds you feeling better and getting stronger!