Before and After

It's Dana again. John has just finished showering (sheesh, what a struggle while attached to eight lines) as I started typing this. I asked him if he wanted me to write anything here for him. These are his words.

Far off, slowly, a figure emerges. As he approaches, the damage is evident. He moves like a wounded animal.

In earlier days there was no time measure for a round of a fight. It ended when it needed to. I certainly needed it to end. I don't know how long this round has been going on, but it is hell. The only reason I'm writing this now is because Dana volunteer to and she had taken some pictures.

I've been slammed hard and long. Since the transplant I've had no food or drink. I'm tethered to an IV pole. I lie here in a semi-stupor all day fantasizing about ice water.

Dana is back writing now. John is holding pretty steady. He continues to be in great discomfort but he was still able to beat me at Cribbage yesterday. He is running a slight fever off and on which they are controlling with Tylonol. They are giving him antibiotics just in case there is any infection, but they say some slight fever is common. The mucositis is the most difficult to deal with. His mouth and esophagas are swollen, raw, and bloody. He has a rash on his back, his limbs are swollen, and there is some fluid in the lower lungs. All this is being addressed. He is still on IV pain meds but they have reduced them, at his request, so that he can read. He has a button he can push every 15 minutes for more pain med relief if he wants to. The med cocktail has made him shaky and weak.

Here is a before and after. The squeamish may wish to look away. It really does look as if he's been in the ring with Mike Tyson. Our hero is down but not out and his opponent isn't pulling any punches. If the docs are right, this round will last another week or so. I wish there were some way to make the time pass more quickly, but on we go. These photos were taken a week apart.