Worst Week Since Diagnosis- 2 Surgeries

Sorry I have not blogged in 5 days. It has been a terrible week
But because I have been running between work, home, and hospital and have had good company at the hospital, I have not had a chance to update...

Basically, Chris seemed ok Monday night. Jeanie and I visited with him in ICU
They were going to be taking him to catscan at night... but he was having trouble keeping the clear drink down

I was not too too worried because they saw no air getting thru on the xray 2 days prior

But, Monday night at midnight, I got a call from a surgeon... There was a hole in Chris's colon and they needed to go in and do emergency surgery
That was the worst phone call. Jeanie had just gone home, so I called her back and she took a ride there to meet me and wait with me
On my drive to the hospital, I called Chris's dad, his brothers, his Aunt Ro & uncle Les, Ronnie/Gary, and I texted Chaplain Sharon
I only reached Matt, who also tried to call dad, but couldnt reach him... I also talked to Uncle Les and ROnnie, but they are in Maryland and Delaware

Chris was so sleepy from being so sick (ovbiously with a hole in his belly)
We told him what was happening but he would fall asleep or mumble that he loved me or say he was a mess but that he would get thru it...
He would wake once in a while and say "whats going on?" Awww poor guy
My heart was breaking... I couldnt keep my tears in.. luckily, i leak often, and Chris always tells me to stop leaking so I just made it like my typical emotional state and told him that he had to get better so we could plan our wedding.. He said "sounds like a plan" -- He always said "Go big or go home" and well, this is big..... Sharon always said it has to get worse before it gets better
But I could have never prepared myself for this
Then Chris said "I have a feeling you know more than me" More heart breaking.. I said "Chris, remember in November when you had no hole in your colon and you sang a little song 'Theres no hole in my colon dear jenny dear jenny'"? HE said yes.. I said "well now you do have one, and they have to just go in and fix it.. all you have to do is hang in there and get thru this" He was asleep again shortly after...

Luckily, we knew the surgeon from previous times they got surgery on board "in case"
He explained that this was very serious. Its not a very complicated surgery normally, but because he is already sick and they cannot know what the Graft Vs Host is going to continue to be like.. and because they know his immune system is suppressed, he will heal so much lower and we have to pray that he can heal and avoid infection.... Dr Gannon was the surgeon and he was very honest with me, but he said he wouldnt do this if he didnt have some hope
He also said he doesnt like to operate on people in Chris' condition unless its urgent and he cannot live with a hole in his colon.. waiting another 24-48 hours could be much worse

Surgery lasted 2 hours max. They did not close him up because he wanted to go back in after a day or 2 to see if there was more small intestine to take and also close him up with colostomy bags... Chris was stable and sedated... Since he is intubated, they have his arms tied down so he doesnt pull anything out

At 530am , i went home to nap.. I didnt nap much but Rex knew i was sad and layed right against me the whole time

Tommy and dad called me back. They came to visit on Tuesday. Chris knows when you are there but he cannot talk cus he is sedated...
Aunt Ro called and she visited Wednesday and saw him all day before the 2nd surgery

The 2nd surgery went fine. They took out another 7 cm of small intestine.
Christine Rabbath came to wait with me and Ben and my mom while he was in 2nd surgery Wednesday afternoon

Chris has been stable (blood pressure, temp, heart rate, etc) since all of this...
He is swollen and retaining a lot of water but its common from surgery.. they did not want to give him meds to get rid of water yesterday because it was too soon after surgery
Hopefully they will do that today and they will be able to take the tube out of throat soon... He is breathing about the oxygen they are giving him.. that is good
He wakes a bit here and there and he knows we are there and he sometimes gets a little excited.. but he is bothered by the tube obviously

My dad visited during the day a bit so he has been getting company
THe bone marrrow nurses also went down to see him
TOday, his dad is visiting and I think my dad might be going back too
Whenever they take the tube out and he is awake enough, he will learn about his colostomy bags :( I am dreading that.
If he fully recovers, they will be able to remove those and go back in to fix him right

He has a tough challenage, but i have faith.. Chris can beat this. He has beat the odds so far. Its hard to heal in his condition and he is sooo strong
I am told that the nurses see people like him (different complications, but all bad) and they think they are not gonna make it and they do.. and chris is stronger than most people... we just need a lot of prayers

There are more details to write but I will leave it at that for now..

xoxxo jenn