Taking Care of Business

Paul has just been brought back from surgery. It took about 2 hours and there was another hour of recovery time. He is once again AWAKE AND RESPONDING! He asked us how long we had been waiting and we told him about 4 hours and he nodded that he understood. He came back all wrapped up in heated blankets and all we can see is his face. He smiled at a few comments of his dad's about his appearance and head dress. They have shaved his entire head, so back to high protein shakes to help it grow quickly. I don't imagine he will like the new look. I do know he will like the lack of headaches. He already seems more responsive and is quicker with his responses. The nurse noted it also. It will take a few days for all the fluid to be drained, it cannot all be done at once. The neurologist will release him tomorrow and he should be back on track by the beginning of the week. Paul won't have the feeling of needing so much sleep, which was a major hinderance for optimal therapy sessions. Now that we understand how much pain Paul was experiencing, it is amazing he was able to put forth the effort he did. He was trying to do his physical therapy and his excercises everyday and the only thing he would not give an effort in was eating. He just didn't want to fight that battle. I can't relate as I would be doing it in reverse - give a big effort with food and go to sleep at the mention of physical excercise....................smile.

We also had a consult with the dietician and they will prescribe a feeding pump so that Paul can be fed throughout the night to help him gain his weight consistently and with less stress on his system. We have been given so much advise and help while we have been at Gwinnett Medical that we are feeling very uplifted. I will not have to spend the better part of my day trying to get all the calories into Paul during his waking hours and we should actually be able to get more like 3000 calories into him, which most men in their early 20's do eat a day. They are researching formulas that will best suit his needs and will help fulfill his nutritional needs as well. They will also prescribe a nurse to visit us once a week to help maintain the incision site, the cleanliness of his feeding tube and check his vital signs so that any turn for the worse will be noted quickly. What wonderful good has come from all of this.

We are sorry about the delay in posting this, but the hospital internet was not working for my wireless today, so I am quickly sending this tonight while I am home getting things to go back to stay at the hospital.

I will try to get more out tomorrow while we wait for discharge information.

Today, I will say only this. I love our God. He has sustained us in our trials and has shown us His way and we are grateful to Him.

Love and Peace to all of you,
Jon and Rebecca Fidero