Dr Manfredi's Report

At her dilation in Boston, Dr Manfredi said he was very pleased; she had stayed open to 9 mm after about a month since her last dilation (when she'd been dilated to 12mm). He did not do any cutting this time, and dilated her to 15mm, our "ultimate" dream diameter, for only the second time ever. He also injected some steroids into the stricture. He said to have her done in Utah in four to six weeks, and he will see her a few weeks after that. He is also considering reducing her medication dose, so tons of good news this time. Unfortunately she also came down with a cold that day, something that seemed to make her throat hurt more than usual and caused extra reflux. She has been refusing food and drink by mouth almost all weekend, including today, but tonight she ate some pizza during a visit with cousins. To my terror she stuffed an entire piece of pepperoni in her mouth and quickly swallowed it after barely chewing, and THEN to my shock it went all the way down and stayed there.  I shook my head when Dr Manfredi first told me the good news, and said "This is a brave new world."  It really feels like a fantasy and I've been afraid to jinx it or get too attached to things being this way, but for the moment (except for her sore throat from her cold) she seems to be wide open and capable of near normal eating.  Happy Independence Day, indeed!

I am planting flowers and sprucing up the patio for our exciting visitors for the Fourth of July celebration!!! Feels like Christmas to me! My mom and dad, plus Grandpa C AND Grandma S are all coming from Oregon to play with us for the holiday.  And I am so excited to do our family traditions together with them! Homemade ice cream, corn on the cob, watermelon, flag cake, barbeque, lawn darts, fireworks, hot air balloons, parade....  Audrey said it best in her little voice as she opened her eyes yesterday morning straight out of bed, "Want see grammas!!"