This morning Dr. Schulick gave Faina a close examination and decided it is not yet time to send her home. The wound at the top of the incision, sternum end, still looks really soupy and now we have a new explanation for why. The bile, those juices that have been percolating from Faina's intestines, exiting from the bottom of the incision, near the navel, and being caught by the ostomy bag, carved a new route, up the line of the incision and out the top. In the process of this procedure, the good doctor removed a few more stitches so now the incision is open by about 2-3 inches (or 5-7.5 cm).
Faina took this all remarkably well. The coals of her otherwise go-go-go, do-it-now temperament have been banked, at least for now. Her spirits are remarkably good. She is still up and walking around as much as she can. Dr. Schulick ordered an anti-depression pill and Faina opted to leave the blue and white capsules in the little cup on her table, showing absolutely no interest in the medication.
Hopkins is the original teaching hospital, a purpose that is central to its mission, and this makes for an engaging environment and a different level of interaction with just about every level of staff. Nurse Kathleen gave us our workshop in ostomy bag maintenance, in anticipation of being discharged. She is a wonderful teacher and showed us a few tricks that an experienced nurse figures out to be efficient and effective. The aroma from the intestinal fluids was a challenge to the olfactory senses, but that's just the price of admission. I look forward to doing this for Faina at home, hopefully soon.
Chazak V'Amatz
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