Gary Bonjour 1951 – 2008

Last post for this busy day.  Gary has turned down pain meds a number of times.  He rests when he closes his eyes and answers our questions when he is awake.  This was a good day!

Read all the Thursday posts, as it has been a full day.  Gary cannot swallow water, so pills are out for the day.  He did sit up straight with his legs hanging down.  The respiratory people came to retrieve their ventilator.   We are glad to see it go!  Breathing is normal.  Hard to believe with breathing labored yesterday.  Maybe one more post before I leave for the day. 

Gary’s ICU doctor stopped in again.  He is happy with Gary’s recovery from the ventilator and spoke of the move back to the stem cell unit.  The most recent blood test looks good.  Hurtles ahead are being off oxygen, being off a med to slow his heart, getting out of bed, drinking water, taking pills by mouth,  eating solid food, solo bathroom visits, and a few more.  Mucusitis persists, as it did during the last stem cell transplant.  Getting out of bed will be difficult as Gary has been laying down for two weeks.

Some pain has returned, but Gary is doing okay.  His condition is way better than yesterday.  He is breathing on his own with comments of chest pain.  The nurse believes it is simply Gary flexing muscles he has not used this past week.  While on the ventilator the chest muscles get lazy.  All vitals are still good.  Creatinine is down to 3.6.  The patient rests.     -Randy

The doctor states Gary will be released from ICU in 24 hours.  Of course, his condition will have to remain stable…which indications are he will.  The good news keeps coming!