We began our drive to Georgetown on July 14^th for Amanda’s surgery to reconnect her remaining small bowel and colon.  The surgery was scheduled for July 18^th and we needed to be at the hospital by 5:15 am.  The procedure lasted for a few hours and included reconnecting the small bowel and colon, closing her stoma, and putting a gastric tube in place.  The gastric tube will be used in her post operative care and is not a permanent addition.  The surgery went well and several hours later she left the recovery area and went to a hospital room.

Georgetown hospital has strict visiting rules and they only allow one person in the surgery waiting room and one visitor at a time per patient with a maximum of two visitors per day.  This meant that Rick and I could not wait together in the surgery waiting room and could not both be with her at the same time post surgery. We were able to get permission in advance for me to be able to stay with Amanda at the hospital.  Georgetown is a “learning hospital” and is affiliated with Georgetown University.  All of the hospital staff from the techs, to the nurses and doctors, are very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.

Amanda’s physical recovery, walking, getting in and out of bed, etc., went really well.  If she didn’t have a hospital gown on, you wouldn’t have known she was a patient.  Her internal healing and recovery will take much longer.  After several days she was started on a liquid diet.  Her diet will be advanced slowly as her body tolerates it.  She will need to eat small amounts, frequently.  The need to take it slow was apparent in the first few days.  If she drank too quickly or too much, she would become bloated and her stomach would hurt. It is a trial-and-error process, with the difference between feeling okay and not feeling okay being just a few ounces. There is a lot that has to happen for Amanda to heal internally, but even more for the surgery to be considered a success.  Her gastroenterologist, Dr. Subramanian, has asked that we return in about a month. She will be the main doctor following Amanda post-surgery and supervising her growth injections and trying to wean her off of the TPN.  We realize that this will take a long time and ask that you keep us and Amanda in your prayers.

UPDATE:Amanda left the hospital on July 26^th, but had to go to the Georgetown emergency room on the 29^th.  A small section of her incision had started to slowly bleed.  There were many people in the emergency room and the wait was hours.  By the time Amanda got to go back, she was exhausted and in a lot of pain.  She had bled through her shirt and onto the blanket they had given her to stay warm.  The doctor said her incision had not opened and packed the bleeding section.  Amanda and I spent the night in a small room in the emergency department because the hospital was full.  We left late the next day after the doctor felt comfortable that she was stable.

Amanda saw her surgeon, Dr. Matsumoto, and her gastroenterologist, Dr. Subramanian, on August 8^th.  Dr. Matsumoto said her incisions looked good and had about half of her staples and stitches removed.  Dr. Subramanian advanced her diet to foods such as plain potatoes, rice, oatmeal, and bananas in small quantities.  She will see both doctors this week on August 9^th and 10^th.  If all goes well, she will be released to travel home on Thursday, August 11^th.  After being here about a month, we are all excited about going home!