Hello, all Pat's friends and followers!

Here is an update at 11 pm 9/27. Pat is still in ICU and still getting some support from her friend, Mister Ventilator. But, she is awake and lets me know, through smiles and nods or shakes of her head, how she feels. Overall, physiologically, she is stable, and improving a bit. She still has a little way to go, but I think she is more comfortable today. We (Froggie and E and I) remind the staff from time to time that yes, surgery can be uncomfortable, and pain medicines will be really nice. The nurses in the ICU are actually quite nice and take good care of Pat; my job is to help them be aware of what she needs. It is, to be sure, difficult to balance the role of being physician and husband at the same time. I will be, first and foremost, Pat's husband and advocate when she can't. She is a most wonderful lady, and when she can be her own advocate again, well ... watch out.

The doctors (surgical, medical) are being cautious and careful in their decision making. It means Pat will be getting some support tonight (9/27) and we will see how she does on Saturday. Hopefully, Pat will be able to get her tube out, but it depends on how she is doing. I want Pat to be off the vent, but I know the docs are being cautious and, having been on both sides of the issue, I will trust their judgement, especially because I agree.

The greater lights (highest up on the totem) are largely aloof or non-existent. The fellows, despite being surgeons, are actually a nice and caring bunch, which I measure by how happy they appear when Pat is improving. There are a couple that are really good doctors with a nice bedside manner (how did they become surgeons, exactly?) and I am pleased to see them when they round, which they do several times a day, along with some of the medical support staff.

Pat likes me to read to her, and I am reading a story by Sue Grafton (I love the Kindle, thanks David and Brian and Valerie). It is good for both of us when I read to her. I love to see her smile, so I do everything to make her smile. But I don't like to see her laugh as that makes her incision hurt! We'll work on laughing later, just like we'll work on walking around, coughing, swearing at whatever (my job), and so on.

I want to let everyone know that I take the iPad to Pat's bedside and I read all of your messages to her word for word. She loves hearing them. I know, when the tube comes out, Pat will have lots of things to say. I'll pass those comments along in future blogs!

Greg (or as they know me at the NIH - Pat's Husband)