May 12 Update from Beth

Mom had her follow-up appointment in Portland on Monday with the surgeon. As I mentioned on the last blog entry (maineupdate.blogspot.com), Mom has been having shortness of breath and getting really tuckered out just walking and getting in and out of bed. Well, there is a reason for this. They discovered that Mom has about a liter of fluid in her lungs. Dr. W said that one in ten surgery patients get this because the body can't get rid of the fluid fast enough. So Mom and Martha are headed to Portland again on Wednesday. They will drain the fluid right in the office. It's about a 30 minute procedure. Then she will go get a chest x-ray. The wounds on her surgery leg are healing nicely and the rash from the antibiotic reaction is gone. She is still not up to having visitors. We are hoping that after the fluid is drained she will feel like a new woman! Martha leaves on Thursday and Brad and Sharon come on the same day until Sunday, the 17th. Then I think Auntie Jo and /or Earl will cover until Martha comes back on the 20th. Then I'll be coming up for a week starting on May 23rd. That's it for now. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.Love, Beth xxoo