Alan’s Army

6:45 - Alan is finally back in his room.  He has his big football helmet back on.  His head hurts a little bit and he’s throwing up a bit from the anesthia.  He’s really thirsty but they’ll only let him have a few ice chips for now.  We are hoping to hear some more details from a doctor at some point.

Alan just moved his blood-oxygen level monitor from a finger on his right-hand to a finger on his left and when Ginny asked “Are you allowed to do that?”  He said “I’m allowed. to do whatever I want - I just had brain surgery”

9:30pm - no Dr yet, so we are heading out for the drive back home to have some dinner and hit the sack.  Alan is happily sipping some ginger ale.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Andrew

The Dr called us in the waiting room at 6pm.

The shunt operation was a success and Alan will have another CT scan before he is returned to his room (good old NCIU #16.) They also took samples of the Cranial Spinal Fluid for testing of Proteins, Tumor cells, and Bacteria.  Those results will take a few days.

Many thanks for all of your prayers.

Andrew

1:35pm EST - They just took Alan off for the shunt operation - thanks for your prayers!

Sorry this will be short, very tired, need bed.

Alan had some pain today with
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That’s as far as I got last night, I’m very sorry about that.  I’ve never been so exhausted.  So yesterday was Sunday in a hospital.  Very slow.  Alan had some bleeding from the spot where the tube goes in the back of his head.  Intellectually I know it was just superficial from the wound, but as a Dad  it was blood on my baby boy’s pillow nevertheless.

Alan had some head pain when they shut the valve for him to sit in the chair and eat dinner, so he ended up back in bed on his back and I fed him dinner a bite at a time.  He ate every last bit of it including the piece of cheesecake I got for him in the cafeteria downstairs.

Some disc golf friends came by today and Alan was very happy to see them.  Erick Simonds, Joe Mela, Rex Hay, and Eric Robins all stopped in and spent some time with Alan.  While Erick was there, Aunt Dari came by as well.  Alan told me this morning on the phone that Tim and Marie Fry also came by later after we had left.

Alan was very happy that Amber was there again yesterday and asked to sit next to him and hold his hand for a while.  Unfortunately Amber is coming down with a wicked cold so she may not be able to visit for a bit.  Due to a weird biology testing schedule, Amber had a delayed opening today, with 15 minute periods all day so Ginny had the bright idea to have her stay in bed to hasten when she can see Alan again.

I spoke to Alan this morning a bit after 7;30 and they were about to take him for a CT in prep for the shunt operation.  The best info available now is that the operation is likely to be at noon or 1 pm today.  The doctors told Alan it would be a 45 to 75 minute operation.

Again, many thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers for Alan.  It is such a blessing to him and us to know there is a whole army of folks supporting him.

I will send a quick operation prayer alert to “Alan’s Army” as soon as we know specifics.

Thank you all and God bless,
Andrew