August 7 - Tuesday

3am
Joe was moved from the intensive care unit to the transplant floor last evening.  This means he is off one of the medications they used which needed constant monitoring.  He has a great nursing staff making him comfortable and tended to constantly.  No food, no water yet.  It has been 4 days.  He is however getting iv fluids to hydrate the body.  Still pretty weak and tired. Joe is using a directed imagery audio file made for him by his pain team.  It really helps put him into a good zone.  As the doctor said, 1/2 hour of relaxation is worth a lot of pain medication.  The body is an amazing machine.  To see him live without a pancreas, spleen or gallbladder is really remarkable.  Tesia stayed with him yesterday afternoon and caught this great image of as she says
Joe jam's....

tesia also documented "mother" (the machine keepin him in meds, fluids)

The fairview minnesota pancrectomy/auto islet team is amazing.  There is a group of doctors/specialists doing amazing surgeries here.  They deserve major recognition for the important work they are doing helping kids and adults with the torturous disease.  here is a website link describing the procedure and staff

http://www.uofmmedicalcenter.org/Specialties/PancreatectomyandIsletAutoTransplant/index.htm

5am

Home delivery: food for the tube feeding from nurse Keri, a real doll as my dad used to say.