Many improvements, and I'm going home!

Usually I don't post photos of myself on Judy's blog, but tonight is different: I just finished my longest officiating stint ever—one week at the Windham World Cup, one week at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Quebec (in the photo I am controlling the tech/feed zone in the cross-country while an Austrian rider comes through and a Russian soigneur waits for her rider), two weeks total—and I am ready to go home to see my sweet wife! I've been in twice- or thrice-daily contact with Judy via Skype, and it seems as if she's on the right trajectory after this menses horribilis that we've lived through.

I am going to leave Mont Sainte-Anne with a 5:45 a.m. shuttle and will board my first flight (of three) at Quebec City shortly after 9 a.m. Man, I'm ready. Two weeks of non-stop cycling competition do have an effect. I can't imagine doing three weeks at the Tour de France, either as a commissaire or a Doping Control Officer. You may think it's all glorious, but there's a lot of grunt work, too. But, then just think: Judy did five weeks in the hospital!

So, let's hope that things will be happy for the days to come (which is not to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the experience of the past two weeks—but the circumstance could have been better, obviously).

Here's to the future!

Problems still linger

Here's a quick update on Judy, written while I am at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec: After two great days at home Judy started having cramps (and diarrhea) during the weekend, and things aren't all cleared up yet. Alan did some lab work on her and is treating her with antibiotics, and he is hopeful that this will take care of it. It seems to be an endless roller coaster, but Judy is tough and hanging in there. Even though I obviously find everything here at the race extremely interesting and educational in my development as a commissaire, I am counting the days when I am finally back in Lubbock next Monday.

So long,

Jürgen

Judy is finally back home!

After exactly five weeks in the hospital, Judy was released yesterday afternoon and she is continuing her recovery at home. I talked to her yesterday right after she made it home, and she was incredibly stoked to be at the house. Emily is staying with her for a few days, and friends and neighbors will be looking in on her while I am here in new York at the World Cup and next week in Quebec at the World Championships.

Thanks for all thse vistis and phone calls while she was at Covenant! You guys were a big, big help!

Jürgen

Thanks to all

(Judy ate only a bit of this fine pizza pie, but it's a start!)

I am finally getting to think about really going home, and boy am I ready. When the drain in my surgical wound finally slows down (which should be in the next day or so) I have to wait for two more days of antibiotics. I continue to thank each of you for your thoughts, prayers, and good wishes. This has been a difficult journey, but it is made easier with the incredible support I receive from each of you.

Thanks,
Judy

Catheter gone, NG tube out, bag a-fillin'

The past few days have brought a lot of improvement for Judy. Even though she is still in room 555, things are looking up. Without the catheter and the NG tube, getting in and out of the bed is much easier. Also, Judy has started to consume clear liquids (jello, broth, popsicles), and that in turn is adding to the bowel activity that started a few days ago. She is still in the learning curve regarding the colostomy bag, but there is great help and advice from the nurses. We don't have any idea yet when she can finally leave, but I think we're getting closer.

Dr. Phillips just made his rounds and was happy with Judy's progress, and she will start some more solid foods soon. Stay tuned—Judy is ready to start the real fight, against the damn cancer, soon again.

Jürgen

Every day brings some improvement

Here we are, three full days after surgery, and Judy is getting better by the day. She manages to get out of the bed, despite all the tubes that still siphon off ugly-looking fluids from various parts of the body. Amazing what medicine can do. But it's still her body (and her spirit) that complete the healing, and that does take time.

In the photo you see her enjoying her "hair wash" during our "shower" session this morning. This shower cap has shampoo and cream rinse in it, and, like those disinfectant fluids, there's no need for rinsing or drying. Pretty cool. She enjoyed the feel of it all, and you see her smile.

We still can't tell too many funny things around her because the tummy still hurts, and she just can't laugh. But things are looking up, and the docs appear happy. The blood infection that she's been carrying for a while now has been identified and the treatment seems to do the trick as the fever is very slight now.

I am running off to Seattle in a few minutes, but we have friends who will drop in on her and stay with her over the weekend. Things look much better than just a few days ago, and we're both OK with the thought (and reality) of the colostomy.

Thank you all for your comments and e-mails, which I have read (and in the case of our German friends) translated to her. You mean so much to her!

Jürgen

24 hours later

Judy spent a rather good night after yesterday's surgery. She said that my being her made her feel comfortable. In the photo above you see Candice (who arrived this morning) fanning her with the little memento that Emily brought back for Judy from Spain. Judy is still running a slight fever, and one moment she's hot, one moment cold. Dr. Phillips came through in the morning, and he was very positive and upbeat about both the surgery as well as Judy's looks this morning. Obviously, we have a long road ahead of us, but Judy's spirits and attitude were strong today, and even though we can expect more set-backs, we're ready to tackle recovery.

Jürgen