May 8, 2018

Today I went outside for the first time since surgery.

At the PCU there’s a patio overlooking the hospital garden. I went outside to the patio.  

It was nice breathing fresh air. The PCU smells because they have to sanitize it all the time. There’s always a smell of clorox bleach and hand sanitizers.

I also liked that it was warm. The PCU is always cold because they have to ensure no bacteria grows. Outside also is bright. Being inside all the time drains you.

I decided to eat my breakfast outside. I had some cheerios, sausage, milk, and hash browns. Even though there’s a lot of pain after transplant, I actually have more appetite. If this continues then I can get my G-tube out.

A G-tube is a tube that is placed through my stomach. I can insert nutrients and calories through it. That’s what I’ve been using for the past 15 years.

I’ve tried to get off the G-tube last year. That was a bad time to try because that’s when I contracted PLE (Protein Losing Enteropathy). Protein Losing Enteropathy is when your body doesn’t absorb the protein you eat. It’s a side effect of a failing heart. I lost a lot of weight during that time. The doctors forced me to get back on my tube feeding.

May 11, 2018

I love the outdoors. Since I went out to the ICU’s patio (see May 8, 2018), I’ve loved the fresh air and warm temperature.

I don’t like being inside the hospital. Inside my room it’s so dark, cramped, and smelly. Outside, it’s so nice. I don’t even have to wear my mask outside.

Everyday I need physical therapy. Today I walked outside into the hospital’s garden for exercise. It was hard, but at least I was having fun.

I asked my doctors when I could be discharged, but they said not yet 🙁

In the hospital an hour is a day, a day is a month, and a month is a year. In real life, you want more time. In the hospital, you want time to speed up. Distraction are keys to speed up time.

Movies are now my choice of distraction. I’ve already finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy. When the Family Resource Center opens, I’m going to rent out the Mission Impossible series.