Reid's surgery went fine yesterday morning.  Dr. Bond elected to open the incision and pull the muscle layers together.  Since this was a first fix, he felt it would be better to open the area than try to fix it with mesh using a laparoscopic procedure.  He said there was a fatty layer that he had to trim out io pull the muscles together.  We are still trying to process how they found any fat in Reid's body but we might just have to concede that it is possible.  They did put a JP drain under the incision and hope to pull that in a day or two, but just wanted to make sure there wasn't any fluid buildup.

The biggest battle right now is the pain.  The liver transplant complicates this because many of the traditional meds are not allowed.  They tried a nerve block which is probably helping more than we realize but the only drug that seems to help is dilaudid.  This is the same drug that we had issues with post-transplant and his body just isn't satisfied without it.  The baseline level that worked a year ago is too low and his body's pain receptors think they need more to be satisfied.  The pain team was in this morning for evaluation and they are trying some other things but probably he is just going to have to work through this as there just aren't a lot of options.  During rounds this morning, Dr. Bond said that the pain was the only thing keeping him in-patient so we will just have to see how the next 24-36 hours go.

Thinking about the body's response to pain made me think about Satan's tactics for our spiritual life.   When we succumb to Satan's temptations and make poor decisions the initial sin or action often feels good.  But like with the dilaudid the feeling wears off quickly and we need more (or need to go further) the next time to get the same gratification.  In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him to flee [sin] and follow after [godly attributes] (1 Timothy 6:11).  Just like Reid is having to struggle through withdrawal effects that come from his previous experience with the drugs we too can find ourselves in similar situations when we turn away from the principles laid out in the Word.  As the hymn says, sin will take you further than you want to go and cost you far more than you want to pay.  

As the day has gone on, he is beginning to feel better, has been up and walked around the ward, and has started to eat a bit so we are on the mend.  Will just have to have some patience and fight through the challenges of today.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention that today is the 1-year anniversary and we learned a new word.  The nurse came in and wrote Livervasary on the board . . . 7B's code for the anniversary.  Certainly didn't plan to spend it here, but it is good to see some of our friends on the 7B again.  Thanks again for the texts and encouragement, we do appreicate it.  

 Signing out from Pittsburgh - Brian, Jeanelle, and Reid