Update: Karen Goes Home!

Family & Friends:

Before sharing today's update ... a special message: Yes, it takes a village ... in addition to Karen excellent doctor, Dr. Bahador, intern Dr. Shannon, and anesthesiologist, Dr. Milburn, she wants to acknowledge her terrific nursing staff: Naureen, Anna, Grace, Sara, and Rod and David (Certified Nurse Assistant - CNA). And of course, her friend CJ, Leslie W., and myself -- who stayed by her side day and night to keep an eye on things and provide a helping hand when needed. And a thank you to friend Lindsay W. too for your schedule flexibility!

Good news! Karen was discharged from the hospital today May 22nd late in the afternoon. Two and a half days as a 'guest' there were quite enough. Once again, her Doctor was impressed with her progress and desire to go home earlier than he anticipated. He had thought 4 days at the hospital. Guess he doesn't know our Karen! He agreed, she'll get more rest at home than hanging out there another night. Gone will be those wee hour in the morning wake-up visits by the nurse to check Karen's blood pressure, temperature, and give her medications.

As one of her prior surgeons, Dr. B., once said of her, "Karen - you're a strong willed woman!" Based on prior experience, Karen knew the drill ... rest, taper off the IV pump pain medicine as fast as safe/appropriate to do so and go to oral pain medicine, start to eat, take short walks around the hospital floor, get off the catheter and start go to the bathroom on her own, do her hospital breathing exercises to keep her lungs strong and healthy, and sit up in a chair in her room for a bit ... all big accomplishments for Day #2 and #3!

Her surgeon, Dr. Bahador came by today at 12:40 PM to see her and agreed to send her home. It was a quiet departure vs. 2 yrs ago. There was no flurry of hospital staff with forms, advice, and instructions like with her prior surgeries. We said good-bye to Naureen, our favorite nurse, who was on duty and drove away in our car.

Armed with a fresh prescription of pain medicine, and the comfort of rented electric hospital bed it was off for a long nap, and the start of a new normal ...
Karen awoke early evening and enjoyed some magic mineral broth lovingly prepared by her good friend Leslie W. In addition, she and I want to especially thank those of you who have made it possible for us to have some excellent, locally pre-prepared organic meals (via Healthy Creations, Inc)! Good cookin' and a healthy diet is one of the keys to an effective post-surgery recovery.

Karen is doing OK, and is working through the typical post-surgery issues of pain management, adjusting to new medications, and regaining her body's rhythm. She'll see her doctor in a few weeks for a check-up visit.

Please give Karen time to heal. She's requested your patience and no phone calls or visitors just yet, and no flowers. In the mean time, please feel free to post to Karen's blog (this website), send a card in the US mail, or email her at ekvd@aol.com (she'll log on soon). Your love, prayers, and healing thoughts are hugely appreciated. Thank you!

Jeff & Karen