Update from the home front

Shane's recovery has been slow since he came home, much slower than we expected.  Shane's surgeon did say this was to be expected - about 10% of people who have this surgery experience an infection and go through a slower, more difficult recovery.  Shane has not had much of an appetite.  I've been trying to entice him with homemade meals, with limited success.  He's been eating about 1200 calories a day.  He also lost a lot of strength (and a lot of weight) while he was in the hospital, so just getting out of bed in the morning takes a lot of energy. Since he opted not to go to in-patient rehabilitation, he will have out-patient rehab instead.  That should start at the end of this week or beginning of next week. Once he is strong enough, he will go to a physical therapy clinic.  The doctors say his strength and energy will improve once his nutrition improves, but it takes a while to begin eating normally again after abdominal surgery.  The visiting nurse has been coming every other day, which has been great.  She ordered all the medical supplies that we need to have on hand at home. Shane will see his surgeon on Friday for a check up to see how his infection is healing.  A home health aide will begin visiting for about 10 hours a week, starting Monday.  He/she will help us out with basic chores around the house.  Shane's oncologist says the earliest she would begin his next round of chemo is the first week of March.