Good evening eveyone.  This is Linda doing the  update tonight. I arrived at the hospital about noon.  Big place and very nice.  When I reached the 9th floor, Shelly & Craig were waiting in an absolutelly beautiful atrium. It even had a grand piano that a radiologist stops by to play.

I was very nervous about seeing Craig.  I could tell he was uncomfortable at times, but a wince from Craig is probably a big ouch for us weaker folk. He looks good.  Much better than I thought he would.  Definitely thinner and his chubby cheeks are thinner.  But his determination and focus just fill the room.  Shelly changesh  is dressing 3-5 x a day. During the course of a 5 hour visit, Shelly changed his dressing twice.  It's more than just changing a dressing tho.  She has to clean the area, get into the fistula as much as she can, and put ointment on the area and then gauze over that. It takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes.  As an observer it was a very touching experience.  It was like a neon sign blinking "love".  Might sound corny--but it was very beautiful to see how much these 2 wonderful people love each other. It's the little things, right?

Craig is pretty much status quo right now.  He can't wait to get this surgery.  We're all anxious for this because it's going to make him heal and get outta town!

Doug arrived about 6.  We all went to a dinner show-- & then stopped for dessert.  We're right by Times Square and it's really something to see.  Talk about feeling like a hick!  So many people!!

It was good to get Shelly out.  I think she had a good time, and we'll have much to talk about to Craig tomorrow!

More tomorrow.

Linda

p.s. They just left for the liquor store!  She will sleep good tonight!

pps  I'm not allowed to plan any more evenings out