TRANSPLANT

After a pretty good night, Simon struck a deal with his pain team this morning that got him out of two things: 1) out of taking a pain medicine to help ease "withdrawl" symptoms from the narcotics, and 2) out of the hospital. And so far, he's proven himself right. Simon has been medication-free since 4:00 am, and he is feeling fine--no pain, no jitters, no bad mood swings.

Dr. Yanik stopped in, and he spent his visit playing with Simon's red tail hawk puppet (and Simon's bag of Dorito's). With Simon being ready to move off his pain medication altogether, there was no reason for him to stay on in the hospital. Simon called Markus to let him know the good news: that he was coming home a day earlier than we had thought!

Simon did need platelets, and he received a transfusion this morning. He also received benedryl with the platelets to ward off possible allergic reaction. We usually skip the benedryl, but his nurse did not know this and gave him a full dose. That knocked Simon out for a couple of hours. (This is why Simon usually prefers to skip the benedryl.)

So, around a sleeping Simon, Markus, Ann, Mary, neighbor Ricardo de Mayo and friend Carol Shultheis completed the formidible task of transporting 3-week's worth of accumulated stuff back to our apartment. We did not travel light. Among the personal items we had had in the room were: 2 laptops, one deskjet printer, 3 plastic storage units with drawers, a video camera, plus games, toys, art supplies, clothes, food, etc.

About 2:30 pm Simon all the paperwork and discharge instructions were complete, and Simon was able to leave. He found a bunch of energy once he got home to walk around outside, climb the stairs, enjoy a new DVD (Toy Story) on a new DVD player. Then he went with Mary and Markus to surprise everyone at Linda's and pick Miriam up. It was a joyful occasion.

Back at home, we had a lovely dinner brought by Christie Brown. After dinner a visiting nurse helped us hook up Simon's home infusion of parenteral nutrition. He will receive IV nutrition during the night for a while until he's able to eat well again. He's ready to head for bed in his own house. Grann even said, after 3 weeks of often thankless toil, that she felt like a guest this evening as she enjoyed a glass of wine and a meal cooked by a friend.

It feels wonderful to be under the same roof, and for that roof to be home.

QUOTE

GLOSSARY