The pain pump and IV fluids were disconnected today. He had solid food for breakfast and is at this moment road testing the chicken salad and canned fruit for lunch. Keep your fingers crossed.

He has a companion that comes with him--the pump that will continue to feed him by tube in his lower bowel. He had a little set back with feeding just as I was sending you the positive update on Friday. His stomach wasn't tolerating the solid food and so he went back to clear liquids until today.

We'll have to have home health care in to monitor the tube feedings and likely continue giving him insulin shots. He's not diabetic, but oftentimes surgery causes the pancreas to not produce enough insulin on its own. And, when you couple that with the amount of calories he's getting in his liquid meal in a bag, he's consistently been running over 200 on his blood sugar. I told the hospital coordinator that the home health nurse better be giving those shots. I can stand looking at blood, guts, and gore, but when it comes to poking someone with a needle, I draw the line.

Greg wants me to extend his deep gratitude to all of you for the cards, e-mails, Chipboard posts, flowers, candy, and prayers. He readily admits that it's your concern and prayers that have helped him through this ordeal. I taped the cards and some of the e-mail (there were to many) to his wall, which garnered lots of comments from the nursing staff.