Joe's doing all right

[Joe Haldeman]

Wednesday, Sept. 23, noon.  Joe's still "critically stable,"  still in the ICU, still on the respirator.  I just talked to the surgeon, whom I like very much.  He says Joe's where he should be, all things considered.

I don't remember whether I was specific or not, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself.  They operated on him Saturday night for a twisted bowel.  When they went in, they found severe pancreatitis that had not shown up on the scans.

The surgeon just told me that Joe's blood count was coming down and the pancreatic enzymes were better than yesterday.  Lab stuff looks better.  He's still running a fever of about 102 that doesn't want to come down.  He'll probably be on the respirator for a few more days to rest and recover.  His bowel has begun working, one of the serious hurdles for this kind of surgery.    He's getting IV nutrition and they're keeping him sedated (yay).

I'm shook but okay.  It's one day at a time.  Right now I even hesitate to let him know I'm here because I don't want to wake him up with all the tubes and stuff down his throat.  Please sleep through it all, Joe.

I went out to dinner with good friends Steve Leigh, Rusty, and Becca Levin and Guy Allen last night.  Then collapsed early and let myself sleep late.  I'll continue to do that until he's conscious again.  I think he'll need me around more, then.

Keep the good thoughts coming!  Gay