August 12

We wanted to thank everyone again for your support! Steve continues to recover with occasional small setbacks. He's looking forward to returning to practice in Sept.

Aug 6

The meeting with Steve's surgeon went very well. Steve's wounds are healing well, his hematocrit is going up (meaning his anemia is getting better) and his white blood cell count is down to normal. They removed his feeding tube. Hooray! We'll see the surgeon again in another month. In the meantime, he wants Steve to start gaining weight. (Wouldn't most of us love those orders from our doctors?)

Aug 5

We meet with Steve's surgeon tomorrow and expect that the feeding tube will be removed (it hasn't been used since he was readmitted to the hospital). Steve is doing great! He brought home a slight sore throat and cough from the hospital that now has spread to some of the family. But everyone is doing fine.

Aug 3

Steve's bile duct stent was removed during the ERCP. The doctor also cleared the bile duct of precipated material that had accumulated while the stent was in place. So, the bile duct has healed. Because the procedure required conscious sedation, Steve has been pretty groggy the rest of the day.

Aug 2

The Sutter Health Wound Specialist visited today and was pleased with the healing of Steve's surgical incision. There remains only a 3 cm cavern that will need to be packed and changed daily. Tomorrow we will return to Stanford for a follow-up ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatogram). My understanding is that this procedure will confirm that bile is draining properly following the placement of the stent several weeks ago and the removal of the bile drainage tube a week ago.
Steve's energy is increasing and he's enjoying getting out, even in the cold SF summer.

Aug 1

Steve continues to improve. We took a walk to Ghiradelli Square today.