Day 7

When the surgical team came in this morning, they weren’t happy with how dry Tony’s mouth was. They ordered three nebulizer-type treatments: no medicine, just a more concentrated saline mist in addition to the humidifier mask.

A missionary couple from the church came by and visited with us and prepared the sacrament for me.

Tony completed several laps around the hospital ward today. He is still using the walker. His right leg still feels very stiff and tight, but his gait is getting closer to normal. I think it’s normal to want to limp, and he has to concentrate on it. Tony is definitely an example of what is possible. Most patients who have this surgery don’t lean into it the way Tony has. An aide asked him how he does it, and Tony said, “They told me I could (walk without a fibula) and I believed them, so I’m doing it.”

When Tony had his tongue removed, the surgeons were astonished that he was speaking and that they could understand him just days after. Tony said, “Nobody told me I wouldn’t be able to talk.”

Our hero appreciated the nurses that took extra care helping him get cleaned up with a bedside bath. The saline mist treatments are helping to dislodge the nasty dried blood in his throat and esophagus. He was able to expel some with gentle coughing, and the respiratory specialist was able to remove another massive clot from his throat after his last breathing treatment. Tony was surprised at how much better he felt once that was gone.

We napped and watched a couple of movies from the movie cart… “Surviving Christmas” and “Return to Me.” Tony’s sister, Debbie, made her fourth trip down from Syracuse to visit us.