Gall Bladder is OUT!

Dear Fods,

This will be a quick update regarding Debbie’s surgery today. Everything went very well – the procedure was done laproscopily and she is expected to be discharged tomorrow morning – some time.

We arrived at HUP @ 8:00 and departed around 5:30. The commutes on either side were very good. We waited for a few hours in the Admissions Department – no surprise – but our special friend visited twice and as things progressed, they were obviously “greased” for Debbie. I was able to stay with Debbie until she was wheeled into the OR and prepped for surgery. Joey took the day off today and was nice company for both of us.

The procedure went very well and the surgeon was very surprised that there was not more scar tissue from the earlier procedure. The scar tissue was the big differentiator between the lap and a full procedure. Lucky for Deb on this one.

We had one HUP moment when I was called to the phone to speak with the “doctor” who was the wrong doctor! After a few minutes, we both realized that we were talking about the wrong person. However, there was one blushing Admin before that was done.

Debbie has a private room on Silverstein 1225 and is doing her best as usual. She moved herself from the gurney to the bed and twice to the bathroom while we were there. She is trying to do laps, without the Lap Nazi, to relieve the air accumulated in her abdomen during the procedure. We hope to have Debbie home early tomorrow.

Debbie sends her love to all.

It's Good to be Back

Hello Everyone,

I'm sorry you have not heard from me in awhile but my blog has been down and my good friend Mo just got me up to speed tonite. I guess they were changing the format of the Blog and for some reason we couldn't get on from our computer, even thought Mo and Jess could get on from thiers. Anyway.. THANK YOU for all the get well cards and wonderful Valentine wishes and blogs. I saw Dr. Porter last week and he did not do a bone marrowbecause my counts are still low and he said my marrow is "hypocellular" which means that my bone marrow still is not producing the normal amt. of cells. He wanted me to see a surgeon about my continued nausea (although it is much less these days) and intermittant pain. So i was able to get in rite away this week to see Dr. Morris ,a surgeon at Penn. He recommended that they remove my gall bladder because it was so inflammed when i had the transplant that it is only a matter of time before it "acts "up again. So i am having the surgery Feb 28th. Hopefully they can do it laproscopically (thru a small tube) and i would only need a one nite stay and should feel good in a week or two. If they would need to do it the old fashioned way (an open chole) it would mean a 6 or 7 day stay and at least a 6 week recovery. So lets all pray for the easy road this time around. AND the other news is that he would like me so go to Johns Hopkins (in Baltimore) to see if i would be a candidate for another transplant. YIKES !!!!!! I'm not at all sure that they will even see me and i'm really not sure i could do that again, but i need to have the gall bladder taken care of first. I liked the surgeon and he feels I'll be fine its just a little more complicated because my platelets and white count are still low. I've had a couple other tests to make sure everything else is in working order and all is well.
Now i need to tell you some really good news. As most of you know, our dear friend Bob Mazzola (my internist) developed leukemia shorly after me and has suffered thru alot of chemo and is getting ready for a bone marrow transplant at Penn hopefully by the end of march. Alot of people in the community and at the hospital where we both worked have asked what they could do to help us. Mo and I both felt that we would love to do a blood drive to thank the American Red Cross for all the blood and platelets we have received over the last 14 mos. Please understand that the blood donated will not be specfically for Bob and I but to replenish the ARC supply. But if not for all the good citizens who have donated, we would not be alive today. I have probobly had close to 70 u of blood and i can't begin to count how many platelets i have gotten. The gall bladder surgery would not be possibe if they didn't have platelets ready to give me if i bleed. So anyone who would be willing to give, (or your kids) please consider it. Our good friend Bonnie Handerhan has done all the work to set this up and somehow has talked the Red Cross into coming to her house for the blood drive. (we think this private residence is a first..they will park the big van in front of her house). The date is March 31st and we will have a sign up sheet with appts. for those that are interested. I will give more info the closer we get. Joe and the boys are first in line. Jess can't give due to medical limitations, but she hopse to come up for the event. I should be fully recovered from surgery and will be there too barring any medical emergencies. I am sssooooo excited for this and i hope if you are able you will sign up with us or at your local Red Cross as i know many of you live far away and Lansdale is too far to travel.
Other then that in many ways life seems somewhat normal at the moment other then lots of tests and drs. appts. whic is my normal now. but i've also gotten to have lots of good times with family and friends. Jess and the babies were up a few weeks ago and hopefully we will see each other this week. Its been hard cause the kids always have runny noses and my white count has drifted down really low, but if she can't get up this week i will go down and wear a mask. I need a Khouri family fix.
Thanks again for sticking with methru my internet failures. You are all wonderful. Iwish you all well. I wish we could all be in Ireland with visitorAlison or on a cruise with beach Betty. Although not approved by dr. Porter i would love to be laying in the sun with a nice cold drink in my hand. Ocean City will do very nicely, if it was only June !!!!! Lots of love to all of you and your families. I remember to thank God every day for your friendship.
Love Debbie