8/24 - One More Night in the ICU

Kristine is doing really well. Her drainage tubes were removed this morning, which seemed to help her expel the fluid in her lungs more easily, a good sign of progress. She just came off of her blood pressure medication this evening so she will be monitored one more night in the ICU at Pennsylvania Hospital and will likely move to a regular floor tomorrow. They've not yet had her walking, just sitting up in a chair once a day for an hour or so.

Dr. Bridges and Dr. Shrager (the heart and vascular surgeons, respectively) each stopped by Kristine's room to check on her today. They are very pleased with the results of the surgery and with Kristine's progress.

Dr. Staddon also stopped by in the morning to visit Kristine (he has been by a few times this past week). He is very happy with what the surgical team was able to accomplish -- remarking that they got 99% of tumor and feels confident that what's left is manageable through radiation and additional chemotherapy treatments. Dr. Staddon praised the surgical team remarking that their combined skill and expertise allowed them to complete in 8 hours what would have normally been a 16 hour procedure (likely exaggerated for affect but his point and his high regard for the surgeons is clear).