Joe made it home Monday. He is happy to be back home, but very tired. He is still in great pain. The doctors told him that the first 6 weeks after surgery will be rough. This is the 3rd week, and it is very rough.

He is improving slowly – he is on track. He has a nurse visit him every day. He really enjoys visitors, but, because he is very tired, it is a good idea to text first before coming. If he does not answer, then he is too tired to have a visitor.

Don’t be offended if Joe does not return your texts. He is having a really hard time right now.

Bridget Fillinger is putting together a meal train for Joe. I will post more information on it when I know the details.

Pathology results are back. It’s the same cancer. The oncologist told Joe he would need a course of chemo again. But there won’t be any pump this time (the pump was what was making him so sick last time).

Joe is slowly getting better. He is still in great pain. He has having some ups and downs. He is planning to go home sometime next week.

Thanks for all the visitors! Please keep on coming!

Joe is recovering at the hospital. He is still in great pain. Every day he walks several times the length of the corridors.

He has reestablished intestinal transit, which is great news. But unfortunately it also comes with more pain.

Joe is hooked up with a bunch of catheters and tubes, so when he walks he has to take a whole edifice of bags and liquids with him.

He is very pleased to have so many visitors. His room is full of cards, balloons, and gifts. So keep on visiting him! But don’t bring food or books. He can’t eat or read right now.

Joe went under the knife yesterday. the surgery went well.

Joe remained on the surgery table for 9 hours. The surgeon cut out every cancerous tissue that was found in his abdomen, then bathed the whole abdominal cavity  with chemo. Joe says this is called “the Mother of All Surgeries.”

Joe is in great pain right now. He is hoping for visitors at Froedtert.

The excised tissues were sent to pathology. The analysis is due back in a couple of weeks.