You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130


The procedure is over now. The surgeons went back in through the vein in his neck to enlarge the metal shunt they inserted through Den's liver on Wednesday. They also inserted coils in the varices (bulging veins in his stomach which were the source of the bleeding last week) in his stomach to cut off the flow of blood and force it through the shunt instead.

Rose and I saw him immediately after the procedure in the recovery area. He was groggy but very relieved that the whole thing was over. Den will have an ultrasound tomorrow in order to check the blood flow and establish a baseline level for future reference. He will have to have regular ultrasounds for some time just to make sure the shunt is open and doing its job. One surgeon who came into the recovery area to remove the catheter in his neck spent some time explaining everything. One thing he told us is that diet will be very important for Den so that he doesn't put undue stress on his damaged liver.

Kim and Mike called from Midway. They are enroute and will arrive here at the hospital some late tonight.

Rose and I once again have the dorm room. The Social Worker has assured us we won't get an eviction notice. It is surely convenient to be staying just two floors below Den's hospital room. Much less fuss and bother about coming in and out, and it's very cold outside. There is a promise of snow tonight.

Now we are headed back up to Den's room. Later we'll go out to dinner then await Kim and Mike's arrival.