Mom's out of ICU

Last week Mom was moved from ICU to a transitional room. (She can now have flowers!) She is doing good. She is being fed by a combination of a TPN line, a g-tube directly into her stomach, and a liquid diet (including creamy soups and ice cream). She still has a fistule in her small intestine. The doctor has the leakage/drainage under control, but he's not exactly sure how many calories she is actually absorbing since a lot of the g-tube nutrition and what she eats ends up leaking out the fistule.

This morning the doctor said that they need to get more nutrition to her so she has more energy for her rehab. (She has not been out of bed for over 2 months). She did sit on the side of the bed for 20 minutes earlier this week, which is good progress.

Her red cell count was low this morning, so they gave her a couple of pints.

Mom isn't in much pain. During the day, she has been listening to music, reading, visiting with Dad (he's at the hospital at least 8 hours every day) , visiting with family, watching dvd's or watching tv. She also enjoys talking with just about every hospital employee who sticks their head in her room. She has also been exercising her arms and legs... she's getting anxious to walk again.

Please keep her in your prayers.