All tubes, drains, IVs out

Earl is setting all kinds of records. The way the doctors and nurses talk, they've never seen anyone recover as quickly as Earl has. The doctor this morning told Earl he was more like a hernia patient than a Whipple patient.

The surgical drain and last IV came out this morning. The doctor who came in today told him that if we lived 10 minutes away he would let Earl go home, but he thought Dr. Watson would want to see him before Earl leaves. So, it looks like Earl will be released tomorrow, Monday, 6/11/07. That's just seven days!

Dr. Watson just left. Says Earl is doing great, but there's no big rush to get him out of here today. They'll check Earl's blood sugar tomorrow and may recommend a diet geared for borderline diabetics. Dr. said it is very unusual for anyone (5% do) to suddenly be diabetic after losing only 25 of their pancreas. It is obvious Earl's pancreas is making insulin, otherwise his blood sugar would be 500. It's been ranging 110 to high 170s. More than likely, Earl might have been borderline before he came up here. Other than being careful with sugars, fats are the only thing the Dr. recommended Earl avoid.

Earl will be on two medications for about a month. One is to make the stomach empty and the other is for nausea. Dr. had mentioned, before surgery, taking an antacid for about a year. Guess that will still be recommended.

Now, as for returning to Tennessee. Dr. Watson has made an appointment for Earl to see him a week from Wed. He only sees patients on Wed. and Thurs, so that's as soon as he can see Earl. After that, assuming everything is still okay, we'll be free to GO HOME!

Dr. appt is on 20th.... don't know time yet. If we leave on 21st, we should be back home on the 22nd. or 23rd. Earl isn't real happy about having to hang around up here, but he does want to go see the King Tut exhibit. So, we'll get him a couple of good books to read and he'll have no excuse not to rest for another 10 days!

Earl is dressed in his clothes today. Just took off down the hall. I'll catch up and we're going to try the stairs!

God is so good! He is the only answer for Earl's rapid recovery! We are so thankful!