10 hours

Can you believe we spent 10 hours in Dr. Barth's office today? Gary is so incredibly whipped and he is totally unresponsive right now. He is snoring after eating a piece of Round Table Pizza and he looks rather comfortable for once. He does look better tonight. HIs coloring is better and he does not look twisted in pain. Maybe we are taking a turn for the better finally.

I am super tired and I can hardly imagine how tired Gary is. I didn't do anything today and I am still tired.
We got to the office at 8 AM and they placed the receptors in his spinal space. The stimulus worked and we programmed it. Within about an hour his pain came back FULL THROTTLE in the left leg and the stimulus worked only in the right leg where he does not need it! So, at 3:30 this afternoon they put him back into the procedure area and readjusted the receptors. When they hooked him up to the CT they discovered that the receptors had slipped about 2 CM. They think this is due to his weakness and atrophy in his muscles. So, they placed it very high to offset the mere fact that it would probably slip once again. It seems to be working and if all goes well then they will remove the receptors on Friday and do the permanant placement/surgery 2 weeks from today. They have to wait to clean out the spinal space to prevent infection.

After meeting with Dr. Barth we learned that he was somewhat concerned with Gary's urine output as well as the amount of bile secretion he has been having over the past 24 hours. His creatine levels are off as well so he ordered CT scans TODAY on his lungs, pelvis and abdomen. Thaty is the procedure that ended our day today.

The office outfitted him with a 3 litre bag of fluids and a pump to keep him hydrated for the night. That machine coupled with the noise from the feeding tube is so stinking loud. I hope to get used to the sound.

We go to the day hospital tomorrow at 8:30 am for wound care and removal of the stitches and retention suchers. Dr. Barth and Bob will replace the retention suchers with a thing called Montgomery Laces. This will hold the wound together as it heals without compromising the skin like the other ones do.

I am not looking forward to 8:30 AM. I am a little concerned about the CT results. Gary has had chemo and radiation all to combat the cancer and to try to reverse the cancer. It is a little scary not knowing what is going to come next. I am not worrying but I am nervous to find out where we stand. I told you all last night that I have been gravely concerned with his functionality and awareness and I have hoped that it is just from exhaustion and treatment and not that his body is shutting down. Only tomorrow will tell.

Please be praying for us in the morning.

Good night and Sleep Tight!
Love,
Lisa