Good Afternoon Team Barb,

Thanks Again for all your well wishes and cheer the past 36hours.  Even though Barb hasn’t responded to any messages, she’s read each one and is lifted by your constant support and humor.  Unfortunately (for you) she’s still not quite up for writing herself so again you’ll just have to endure my sharing a quick update as to the progress of our favorite patient.

Day 1 was challenging with a combination of anesthesia side-effects, general soreness, pain medication lethargy, and a bit of a fever in the evening.  The good news is this is all normal for surgical patients and her procedures.  The anesthesia side-effects are temporary and have subsided until this point.  The soreness is normal and will wane in time.  Barb has minimally depended on any kind of pain meds until this point, and the fever was very short lived.

Part of Barb’s constant care and monitoring the first 48hrs includes checking the relocated tissue in her chest for vascular integrity.  Every 60min beginning the moment Barb came out of surgery a nurse uses a small ultrasound device to listen for blood flow and circulation in her chest tissue.  Unfortunately with the round-the-clock care, things haven’t been very restful for her.  With a reconstruction like Barb’s where her own tissue was used to help build-up the resected areas there’s always a risk the tissue/vessels won’t thrive.  And in case a failure starts to develop it’s best to catch it very soon so the surgeons could get her back into an OR to repair things.  But so far her relocated tissue has been very healthy in color, warmth, and sound.  We’re not completely out of the woods, but things look very good.

In general, Barb is doing well.  Expectations for Day1 were very low, but still Barb was determined to try and start moving.  Early on Saturday morning Barb pivoted into a bedside chair for a while which was a mile ahead of what most others can accomplish.  But then the soreness became more evident, I think she was a little hung-over from the anesthesia drugs, and in the evening a high fever crept up which was as confusing as it was quick to retreat.  By the time she started to feel a bit better it was nighttime and best that she just try to continue to rest and get some sleep considering the past few days.

So as I write this from Barb’s bedside on Sunday afternoon, there have been no complications which is a huge positive.  Day 2 was a bit of a transitional day.  Barb successfully pivoted into the same bedside chair this morning again which earned her removal of the catheter.  And she’s even progressed as far as going for two short walks this afternoon. She’s no longer attached to any tubes/wires and her pain can be controlled with oral medications so no more IVs either.

Getting out of bed has done wonders for her today. She’s talking a bit more, the headache is gone, and it’s easy to see she’s becoming more independently mobile…  In total, I’d say we’re getting our girl back…

On a more humorous note, Barb’s done a great job letting her team of world-class providers take care of her around the clock.  And as you all know, Barb doesn’t take direction from many people.  Though there was one point this morning when she self-diagnosed and prescribed herself a cup of coffee to help with the headache.  Of course the MDs declined as caffeine restricts vessels and could affect her tissue condition, but I saw a moment of hesitation in her eyes and could almost count on the rebuttal.  Fortunately she held back and took the doctor’s advice.  But I’m pretty sure if someone dressed up Juan Valdez in a white coat and a stethoscope she would take his advice over the surgeon’s recommendations.

Thanks again for all your love and support.  Barb knows you’re all praying and cheering for her and it helps tremendously every time. I think we’re on the upswing of the early recovery process and I’m looking forward to getting you more updates later tonight or tomorrow.

If you have any questions or concerns, Please feel free to reach out any way you can.  I’m available all the time and don’t mind keeping anyone in tune with what’s happening.  You just need to remind me…

Have a wonderful night, go Ravens, and stay warm.

BARBSTRONG and God Bless.

-Salvatore

P.S.  Below is a picture of Barb with her new pet named ‘Randall.’  Randall is a honey badger.  When you press his paw he speaks certain phrases not intended for young ears.  He’s a vulgar little critter, but he makes her laugh and she loves him dearly…  And incredibly, you can barely tell the difference between the pre-op picture I posted yesterday and the 36hr post-op picture below.  Honey badger.  Also our children were generous enough to make some cards to decorate Barb’s room.  You can see them below as well…