Can I show you my catheter?

With the big operation fresh in the rear view mirror John took his first step down the road to recovery today. In true John fashion he wasted no time calling Janna at 6:45 am to let her know that they were going to be moving him out of the Cardiovascular Unit and into the friendly confines of West Tower. During that conversation he also reminding his daughter that her Dad is "Superman".

We were all pleasantly surprised yet again. First his surgery takes less time then expected and now they are moving him out of CVU after only one night instead of two or three days. We are starting to get the feeling that John wants to get back to Sooke mountain as soon as possible. Molly and Brando are already beside themselves waiting for John's return and the magic pocket of dog treats.

Merete arrived at the hospital this morning at 10:45 am to find John in his new room alert and awake. She had to remind him of yesterdays visit as he had failed to remember his obsession with photos and the soon infamous Truman video. He was in good spirits except for the burlap sack filled with straw that they had placed him on. John figures he had been given Royal Jubilee's inaugural bed. Despite his bed related discomfort he did manage to stand up on his own for a brief moment.

When Janna and I arrived just after lunch we were taken aback. There sat John, glasses on indulging in some mandarin slices and steeping a cup of tea. He talked and acted like nothing was out of the ordinary. All of his tubes with the exception of one had been removed. Of course he was not shy about showing of his bandages. Not ten minutes into the visit and he was lifting his shirt up and down showing of where things had been inserted and removed. And then it came...the one thing that I never expected. Amidst his show & tell he looked up with a grin on his face and said "Can I show you my catheter?" He was joking of course but that will always remain with me. The good news is I know that I am part of the family now. Either that or one final attempt on his part to get rid of me.

We left him to sleep for a few hours during the afternoon. When we returned in the evening he had managed to get a new bed. And this one was at least from the current century. In all the commotion of moving beds and showing off his new markings he was pretty tired. We didn't stay long and we left him to get some sleep. But we will be back tomorrow bright and early to check in on him.

-Travis