I’m Not Dead Yet (I.N.D.Y.)

First off, I’m doing well. The parts of my bodily functions that are supposed to be moving, are, and those that are not, aren’t. I’m able to go for longer and longer walks today than I was yesterday and I am completely separated from my IV (except for some antibiotics they give me once every 4 or so hours). I was taking off the pain pump (which had a button I could push every 6 minutes to administer pain medication) today as well. Unfortunately, the doctors did not update my files to include oral pain meds until this afternoon, so there was a period of time that got pretty uncomfortable for me. Luckily, my nurse was able to override the system and get me some meds around noon. The other big news is that I am solid food diet again. I’m taking it easy, nibbling here and there, but the food is surprisingly good.

I have mentioned how nice the rooms here are, so I thought I’d show you what they look like.  My clothes are stored in the wardrobe on to the left of the picture.  The TV in the top of the wardrobe is very nice and has a built in DVD player.  I have a fax machine in my room, along with a workstation (and high speed wired connection, in case I didn’t have wireless).  Here you see me lounging about with a Freshen milkshake (of sorts), the bounty from one of my strolls down to the main floor of John’s Hopkins Hospital.

Here is some of the propoganda from one of the brochures about the Marburg Pavilion:

• Quiet, secluded unit with fine wood furnishings and private baths
• Special enhanced dining service, with expadned menus and reserved delivery times (there are actually 2 or 3 people who bring the meals to this floor.  They are in uniform and seem much more like waiters than harried hospital kitchen staff.  Did I mention that at around 4p, they bring around a tea time snack of sandwiches, cookies, and assorted drinks?)
• In-room computer hookups and fax machines
• TVs with DVDs and premium cable channels
• Family and visitor meeting and lounge area with complimentary beverage service and newspapers (area also has a complimentary computer and printer)

All in all, the overall feel of this place is very nice. I guess, in addition to having the surgical skills to best handle my case, Dr. Cameron’s position at Hopkins does afford his patients some extra perks.

Now for the slightly gruesome.  If you are so inclined, you can click this LINK to see an image of my incision.  (I figured I’d give you all the opportunity to decide whether you wanted to view it or not.)  All of my nurses and the docs have said I’m healing well, so that’s good news, so while the image looks yucky, I’m told that it is healing nicely.

I wish I had more definitive information to give you all, besides that I seem to be recovering quite well.  As I’ll be in the Baltimore area until September 2nd, please drop by and say ‘hi’.  I have very much enjoyed the visits from friends and family thus far.

Regards,

Merle

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