Almost 7 years to the date....

Peter had his CAIR (Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation) check-up on Thursday, a month post surgery, as planned.  We went with the expectation that the team would reduce his TPN from 4 nights/week to 3 nights/week and then we'd continue working on reducing that further over the next month or two, eventually getting down to none within two months or so.  To our complete, wonderful surprise, the team said they'd like to see Peter stop TPN completely now! His TPN calories are few enough that he should be able to compensate for them by diet.  He already receives his multivitamin by mouth, so TPN is not necessary for delivery of vitamins.  His volume of stool is low enough that he does not need the fluid in TPN for fluid replacement.  In fact, Peter needs less fluid since he is so prone to ascites.  So, we have all agreed to stop Peter's TPN and see how he does over the next month.  He will go back for another check-up then, to see what his labs are like and whether he has been able to maintain his weight.

Back in January 2012, Peter went off TPN, but within a month, he had lost significant weight.  His face had so little fat on it that his forehead would wrinkle like an old man's and his bottom was starting to look wasted.  He no longer has the ostomy though, so as long as his intestine is able to handle and absorb the increasing amounts of food he will need to eat, he stands a much better chance at succeeding in staying off TPN this time.

Peter's good news occurs almost seven years to the date when we found out that he was sick and needed hospitalization.  Lent 2006 began with Peter and I going to the hospital for a week to find out why he was so anemic.  Now, near the end of Lent 2013, we feel an extra reason for gratitude this Easter.  While Peter will always have some health issues of real concern, it is important to rejoice in the small and big blessings that we receive along the way.