July 2, 1996: Still in the thoracic intensive care unit; they say they might put me in a regular room tomorrow (but then again they said the same thing the last couple of days, so don't put too much faith in it). I'm generally recovering well, but my heart function is still a little screwy, so I can't get up and walk around yet (my pulse goes haywire). Visitors are generally welcome, but PLEASE CALL FIRST - (617) xxx-xxxx, this is the nurses' station, leave a specific message if they say I'm unavailable to talk; there are various restrictions on visitors which are enforced at some times, but not others, so again, please call.
Thanks for all the email - I will try to answer more of it individually when I have more time and energy.
July 3, 1996: I'm in a new room - 15-B-37, (617) 732-4595 - from which I will be able to see the fireworks if I'm still here tomorrow night (which is likely, sigh). I'm getting better but still need lots of rest and need to pace my visits carefully, so please still call ahead.
July 7, 1996: Let's see, where are we... since the last update, I've had a second chest tube put in to help fluid drain from the upper part of my right lung. The plan is, over the next day or two, talc will be inserted into those tubes to prevent fluid from accumulating again, and then after another day or two of drainage, the tubes will be taken out and I should be ready to go home. I will still have to be on oxygen at home, and not too mobile, because (1) even once the fluid is cleared there is still damage to the lung from the spread of the cancer and (2) there is still fluid in the left lung.
Visits continue to be welcome but restricted.
July 8, 1996: Upper tube removed ... lower tube talced, scheduled to be removed tomorrow ... no pain to speak off in all these procedures ... feeling good overall ... going home Thursday seems likely (but as always, don't bet on it).
July 10, 1996: Everything seems to be proceeding on schedule to go home today. (I had some trouble with numb and then painful toes, but that seems to have been due to scrunching into a too-short hospital bed.) My right lung is now completely clear; the left lung still has about 3 liters of fluid (not in the lung itself but surrounding it); at this point, we're postponing doing anything about it, because although it "should" be simple to take care of, the complications on the right side suggest it might take a while, and I'd rather go home for a while now than be stuck here another week or more.