I said I would report about being in the hospital after leaving ICU but I have been keeping you up-to-date on what is happening in real time. This is an entry on the last few days in the hospital.

I returned to the 11th floor at M. D. Anderson and the next week was spent gaining strength and rather routine. I had dialysis, received platelets, blood and medications. They were stabilizing my numbers and watching my progress in preparation for leaving the hospital. I fought nausea and tried to eat but often it did not set well on my stomach; this is even with being given medication through a drip to settle my system. A dietitian, physical therapist, an occupational therapist and the team of doctors and physician’s assistants saw me daily. My nurses and everyone on the 11th floor were great to my family and to me. They were always encouraging me and cheering me on when I would go for my daily walks. The walks would seem like short ones to most people but to me they seemed like a marathon.

Since I had been a bit “active” in ICU, I had a device in my bed that would play very loudly: She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain” when it felt me getting out of bed. Arthur and Mark became very quick footed to turn it off before it bothered everyone on the floor. No matter how fast they were the nurses always checked to see if they needed help. The last two days in the hospital I promised them I would be really good if they would remove the device. I called them slats because that was what they looked like. The nurse agreed with me and it was removed. I was very relieved because it was like loosing a yoke.

That is briefly what took place the last week.