Bob Massie

It was a week ago that they took Bob into surgery and gave him a new liver. It has been two days since I posted last and it hard to know where the time goes.  Hospital life takes up a lot of time even when nothing dramatic is happening. Each day Bob is a little better, stronger, more mobile. Each day brings it’s own hiccups, struggles and questions. And its milestones – eating, getting out of bed, walking laps around the ward and various other important but unmentionable improvements. Bob is working really hard to push through each challenge.  He is such a pro at looking after himself and keeps his eye on each new target.

The have given Bob a pic line because after 40 years of his own injections his veins are so tired he just did not want to be stuck every time they wanted to check a blood level. He has had Xrays and ultrasounds, all done at the bedside by marvelous techs. This evening he had an MRI which will be read by a doctor Stuart described as the leading expert at interpreting liver images.  They are keeping a close eye on his liver functions, which yesterday were a bit high but today are getting to where they want them to be, and his white cell count which is still a little high. They have an approach to bring up the medication levels slowly, seeing what he needs and how he does. The current hope is that Bob will be ready to leave the hospital early next week.

While this is the biggest event in Bob’s complicated medical adventures it has been the smoothest hospital experience. We are so impressed with the doctors and staff here. Bob being Bob, he gets into conversations with everyone about their background and life experiences.  They come from all over the world and they have all been very good to us.

I have spent the last two nights in the hospital and that helps Bob sleep. I have slept Ok here as well on a fold-out chair made up as a bed. We moved Bob into the adjacent room which is bigger, brighter and had lights that worked better.  He can also see out the window from the bed, a rare detail in a hospital room.   In the evenings we are deep into watching the miniseries John Adams which we missed the first time around and now have on Netficks.

Today I got in another short swim, and though I was pretty tired, it felt great and the sun was hot and relaxed my bones. The day before yesterday I had a longer slow swim. I went up and down the lanes with my head laid sideways in the water like on a pillow, doing a slow sidestroke. I started trying to think about all the people who had helped us get to this point but there are too many to keep straight. I have promised myself to try to write it out later on.  It’s not a chore but an amazing blessing to review how much support and love we have been given.

We have also received a great many wonderful messages and even a pile of cards which are lined up on the bulletin board. The address of the guest house is Mason House 1555 Shoup Court, Decatur GA. 30033.  Thanks for reading.

Anne