Going Home

Hi everyone,

It's our last full day today and I really should be packing. Somehow or other we have alot more 'stuff' than we came with... can't blame it on the shopping expedition to the biggest Mall in America either as it didn't materialise. The trip takes about 1 1/2 hours and the bus didn't have a loo so we could not go. Restrooms have become quite a priority in our lives - we know every one of them within a mile radius of the condo. I worry about becoming a restroom loiterer as I seem to spend alot of time doing just this...

We've had a week of doing 'firsts'. First dinner out during the evening, first trip to the local Mall, first meal out with company, first visit to the cinema - all basically to give us the confidence of tackling the long journey home. Andrew passed with flying colours - coping with everything that I threw at him. He's still getting used to his new waterworks. Although he looks the same (just a few extra scars here and there), the new bladder works very differently and it takes a bit of getting used to. He is still very tired and not surprisingly as his night time sleep is interrupted every hour or two by a trip to the loo. He tries to make up for this by taking lots of naps during the day - and little by little he is returning to 'normal'. His appetite is well and truly back to normal and although the majority of his diet is 'soft' he is introducing the odd 'naughty' titbit which up to now has proved harmless. He has to drink 8 - 10 glasses of fluid every day and he's managing this too with no problems - even has a glass of wine!

We have been here in America for 6 weeks and I have to say that it's been an incredible journey for us both. The doctors and nursing staff at the Mayo Clinic have been incredible - we can't thank them enough for giving us our life back.

Our long awaited journey home starts tomorrow.......

T & A

x
ps could not have done it without all the love and support we received from you all xox