Christmas at Home

Well, a week ago I went into the hospital to have my spot on my liver brushed and a drain put it. Typically me, things did not go to plan but eventually worked out. The drain had a little leak and everytime I moved the most severe pain gripped me. I stayed in bed, even refusing to get up to go to the bathroom until the LAST moment. Eventually my tissue grew around the tubing and closed the leak. Instead of being in the hospital 1 night, I was in 3. I really cant get enough hospital food. Since every cloud has a silver lining-1)when you throw up after surgery, it is ok, actually the best experience I have had throwing up. There is nothing in your stomach, so no bits get caught in your nose so you dont smell vomit for hours. 2) Even when pain medicine doesnt work, if they give you enough, you pass out and dont feel a thing 3) I had a wonderful chance to improve my Swedish and learn all sorts of words they dont teach you in class.

On the last day in the hospital, we spoke with my doctor in charge. The initial pathology reports from the brushings show no cancer. GREAT! Since it is Christmas, we need to wait for a more detailed analysis. Dr. Håkansson has schedued a PET-CT scan on January 2 to investigate further and I will also meet the following week with the liver transplant team in Gothanburg. My records are being sent to Prof. Garden in Scotland who did my first liver snip to see what he thinks as there is a possibility that if needed, I could have surgery there. I am just praying, hoping, sacrificing chickens that the spot is not cancer, but scar tissue buildup. I am hoping I am that Christmas miracle. Dr. Håkansson wasnt too convinced when the brushings came back cancer negative. Quote "When you go fishing, just because you dont catch any fish doesnt mean there are no fish in the lake" Trust a Swede to make a fish analogy!

Anyway, I feel great now. The area around the drain is only mildly tender if that. Though it does gross me out to see tubes tangling from me. I think it makes me look like a household appliance and I should be plugged into the wall. I slept deeply last night until Hans alarm clock woke me up, which is a major improvement. I feel so good now that I have recovered from putting in the drain that I just dont think it is possible I am sick.

Hans and I are going to have a quiet Christmas. They celebrate it on the 24th in Sweden, but unfortunately Hans is on duty at the prosecution chamber until 5:00. We will then go to his mothers and have a traditional Swedish Christmas smorgasboard. We are going to midnight church service at the church where Hans was baptised. Until then, I will watch the Grinch who Stole Christmas and Rudolph (classic versions of course) and nap on the couch. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!