Emma is in a new room for more stable babies. They'll begin feedings in the next few days along with removing a bothersome tube from her mouth that pumps out the contents of her stomach. She seems more comfortable. They've cut her morphine dose in half without upsetting her. The dressing on her abdomen is silver dollar sized and tinged with dried blood. She still receives all of her nutrition from the PICC line (lipids and TPN which are basically vitamins and fat).

I don't know why Emma has healed so remarkably fast. We have a great surgeon and my family is with her nearly every waking moment. Still, I think even the staff is surprised at how quickly things have turned in her favor. On her birthday, we were looking at a minimum of 6-8 weeks to try and heal. Now, it appears she may not only totally heal in half that time, but come home in just a few weeks. Simply unbelievable.

Dr. Rice met us in the waiting room after her last surgery on Friday. He told us the good news, shook our hands, and headed back to the OR before his next scheduled surgery. However, before he reached the operating room double doors he did something curious. He slowed his stride, looked over his shoulder at us, flashed a big smile, and was gone. It was the way he looked at us that was so curious. I don't think he expected me to be looking his direction and witness the smile. His smile was so large that I could tell it meant something more than just joy. It must be a wonderful and empowering feeling to tell a patients loved one that everything is going to be okay because of the work you've done. After his many years of surgery, through all of the successes and failures, he must recognize the need to reflect, for no matter how brief a time, on his role in the story of peoples lives. His hands are instruments of fortune which dictate a result that doesn't necessarily obey the will of his heart. For that, a surgeon could be considered a tragic figure. To have a world of knowledge and skill for influence, but to be at the very same mercy of an outcome for those that have none. We are grateful that it was a smile.