These reports about Camilla's progress came from Tom tonight:

(9/10/09)
I saw and spoke with Camilla in her room (her telephone number is 860-358-4521) and she is still a bit hard to understand, probably due to the breathing tube during surgery. She looked tired but happy that this was over. She will have PT starting tomorrow in the hospital and will be walking. All signs are good and nerve tests showed no problems. Once she starts to walk her leg pain that has plagued her these many months should be gone. We'll know more in the coming days. She has an array of tubes and wires going to and from her body including a
Foley catheter, drains placed at the site of the operation, arterial line in place, pulse oximeter, Oxygen via the nose, monitors for the heart, a morphine machine (self activated 1 mg with a push button up to every 5 minutes), a cold water tube flow to a pad on the lumbar region that helps with pain and an IV drip. Probably a few I missed but I was trying to keep up with the nurse when she was explaining them. She also has support stockings. Oh, and a gizmo, for lack of a better term, which she must use for her lungs. She breaths out then inhales through a nozzle on this unit that measures the air uptake to the lungs. The nurses said the first efforts were very good. The pre- op was very through with the PCP (Urine and blood test, urinary tract infection was cleared a couple of days prior to surgery) and Heart doctor ( EKG, Stress tests all due to a previous heart attack, MI in 2006). During the surgery, the Neurosurgeon said it was very clear visually where the nerves were pinched and it corresponded with the MRI. They did put in screws to strengthen the vertebrae at L-5 and L-4. This likely accounted for the length of the surgery ( three and a half hours verses two initially). The need for fusion has increased the time she must stay in the hospital from 1 night to 3 nights. Camilla told me to be sure and thank everyone for their prayers and thoughts during this significant event. Camilla is a real trooper with a positive outlook now on the road to full recovery.

9/11/09

The tubes and wires have started to disappear one by one until only the drains remain. Camilla's spirits are good but she is weak. She took a few halting steps today and confidence grew as the day moved on. She had her first solid food and the pain in her leg which has been with her for most of this year is ... GONE! However, replaced by the surgical pain that should go away with time. It is still very early in the recovery and the road ahead of us may have a few surprises but so far everything is positive. Pain is now managed by pills rather than drips and fluids by mouth rather than IV. Not surprising her questioning attitude has returned with the permissiveness during the operation and the day after only a memory. We are still a few months from full recovery but the road seems smooth at this stage. She again wants to thank everyone for the calls and thoughts.

Thank You and God Bless
Tom

We are very happy Camilla is making good progress. I'm sure Tom will keep us posted.

If you'd like to send Camilla a card, it sounds as if she will be home in a couple more days. Her home address is:

Mrs. Tom Dente
77 Bielefield Rd
Middletown CT 06457