The Thirteenth Day

Richard did it! He passed the "swallow" test!

After a relaxed night, lovely care and Richard's determination to get his lungs expanded by doing blowing exercises and walking the halls as much as possible we were taken via ambulance (a cab would have done just as well!) to Wellington Hospital at 2pm accompanied by the wonderful Sheila, Richard's day nurse. After a little kerfuffle finding the correct building and with nerves almost as bad as the day of the surgery Richard had the test which had him sitting in a chair and being xrayed while he attempted to swallow some well masticated strawberry and yoghurt. Apparently it went down the right way! He has to swallow twice after every intake as the liquid tends to "pool" a bit after the first swallow right now. Then he should cough. It will all get better with practice. I was nearly jumping up and down with joy as I sat and listened to Haley's report as she went over everything with Sheila. She's happy if Prof Hanna is happy to take off the "nil by mouth" designation. Richard was quietly jubilant.

So back at our little nest in the hospital Richard rested on the bed for a bit taking everything in and then had a couple little sips of apple juice. Melinda Ziff, Prof Hanna's Practice Manager came in for a chat and said Richard could have consomme, jelly, and ice cream right now and if they go well,  graduate on to mashed and minced foods. She's organising us to meet the nutritionist who knows the most about this particular operation later this week. Harley Street Clinic has a good nutritionist who we have met with and who we will see tomorrow at 2:30 before we leave for interim instructions.

So, over then next 24 hours we will be processing tomorrow afternoon's departure and the transition from cocoon to hurly-burly world.

A bit sad to leave all the loving, kind, skilled nurses, doctors, technicians, cleaners, porters and  caterers but we know it's the appropriate move and feel up to the challenge. Over the next week or so Richard will still be given food and water via the tube into his lower intestine but the amount will gradually be reduced as he takes more and more of his sustenance through his own mouth, until the bag is no longer necessary. Prof Hanna wants to fatten him up so he can do well through the next cycles of chemo so wants to make sure Richard is doing well with eating before he takes out the tube.

Besides the fabulous medical care we want to thank all of you who have been silently intending, praying, wishing good things, focusing good energy on your mental picture of Richard. It all seems to be working in concert to produce a picture of steady recovery to health.