Wednesdays visit back to Duke for a followup 5-10-16

Ray and I traveled to Duke yesterday for a followup since his release last Friday (a week ago)
He had followup blood work and had his staples removed. The surgeon was very pleased with how his incision was looking and the infection that had occurred after surgery is healing very nicely. He will continue on his at home IV antibiotic for about another week in a half. That has been going well and we are handling the Picc line and administering the antibiotic nightly as "pros" now.
On the 20th Ray will take a picture and email to them to see how it looks since the staples have been removed. If it continues to heal and look better then they will stop antibiotics that week. Otherwise the surgeon released Ray from her care and turned it back over to Rays liver Dr., Dr King. He is able to drive now so he was EXCITED about that!

Dr. Sudan said his total amount of healing time and time out of work from the date of surgery will be 8-12 weeks so it seems he will return to work July 1st.

He will have weekly blood work done here to continue to monitor his liver numbers and his antibiotic levels to make sure he isn't receiving too much or too less of the vancomycin.  A home health care nurse will come each Tuesday to draw his blood and to change his picc line dressing. Once the antibiotic stops, they will pull the Picc line and then he will just have labs done as he did before.

His liver numbers were about the same yesterday- 2 numbers are in the normal range and one is still elevated (Alk Phos). They are hoping that as the duct heals, swelling goes down, once the infection is completely healed and he is off the antibiotic that, that number will go down. We will just continue to pray about that and wait it out.

Ray is feeling better and stronger each day. He looks healthier and more rested this week since being home for a week now. The kids have been so happy to have him home to hug, kiss and say "I love you too" in person!

We continue to thank you all for the support and ask that you continue to pray for healing for Ray and for those liver numbers to continue to stabilize as well as his kidneys to bounce back.

Thank you again friends and family

Ray and Janet