We started a little book at FMH for people who visit to write in if they want. They can write about the day’s visit or about a story from 30 years ago: it is all good. One of the docs stopped in while I was
visiting and said the bile duct oopsy is a monitoring thing. Dad now has a line into his right arm for nutrition and meds and blood draws, if I understand correctly. This is good as he hasn’t been getting food for a while. I gave him some applesauce which he seemed to appreciate. He is allowed to eat some food now. Plenty of talking but I couldn’t figure out what he meant. I gave him leg and head massages, read Raivaaja parts to him. Heather came to visit after work. We don’t know if the bilirubin thing will pass or what… just waiting it out.
Not everyone who loves Dad is tied into the web scene. Heather called Laurie, who grew up with Dad in the Bronx and now lives in Florida. He sends great Finnish wishes to get better. Laurie came up several years ago and, wow, did we enjoy his stay. He is a bit older than Dad, but they grew up together in the same Finnish co-op building.
Just to clarify: The gallbladder and the liver both secrete bile into the intestine via the common bile duct. This means that when the gallbladder is removed the common bile duct remains connecting the liver to the intestine. There can still be gallstones in it.
4-12-08: Dad’s blood tests for liver and bilirubin improved today, and he appears less jaundiced to me. The nurse says he walked a bit. While Mom and I were there (on Chena’s heels) he talked a little then got another nebulizer treatment. He ate a little birthday (J & D) pie.
Peter sent some great photos from Dad’s birthday that we will attach thumbnails of, with a little tech help from the guys…