Doing okay!

Matt is doing okay. He has his good days and his bad days. Some days after he eats he gets a bad stomach ache. After he rests some he feels a little or goes to the rest room he feels better. He needs to continue to eat more. He might be around 140 pounds. If you see him buy him some ice cream or shake. Anything that will help put on pounds.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Good Weekend

Matt had a pretty good weekend. He went out to eat with the Hepp Family Friday night. Had lots of fun. Saturday he didn't feel so good. Did more resting and sleeping. Sunday he felt much better. He still is having a hard time putting on any weight. With clothes on he possible might weigh 140 pounds.

Today he is going to work for a few hours. They said there could be some light work for Matt to do. He is so excited!! I explained to him he has to behave himself!!

Also today is his first day of therapy for his right hand. Hopefully he will get all the feeling back in his hand. He said it is feeling better. Just a little numb. He will have to work at doing what ever exercises they give him.

He didn't like seeing the snow. Can't drive his camaro in the snow. He saw his Uncle Jeff & Aunt Donna, cousin Eric and Amanda on Saturday. They came out for a visit. Aunt Donna brought Matt some chocolate chip cookies!!

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!

Stitches are Out!!

Matt went to see Dr. Stoddard yesterday. She looked at Matt's stitches and said all looked good. Then she started to take them out. Matt counted them as she took them out. He counted 50 Stitches and 1 large stitch where the chest tube was! A few of them seem to hurt when she took them out. Matt smiles of course when she got them all out! Matt explained about the numbness in his right hand still. She wrote him a prescription to have therapy on his hand. He starts next week with therapy.

Wednesday night Matt went and uncovered his camaro. He couldn't wait any more. He drove it around the block home from Grandma's house. Now he wants to take it to the shop and have help to put in the new seats, headlights and wheels on his car!

Starting next week he wants to start going to the shop a couple of times for a few hours. He knows starting next week he can't lift more than 15 pounds. Getting tired of being home. He has been spending lots of time with Casey.

Thank you for all you continued thoughts and prayers.

Doing Good!

Matt has been home a week. He is doing well. He sleeps okay. If he stays up a little later he sleeps better. He needs to drink lots of fluids; water or juices. He has dropped some weight since we have been home. The Doctor says he needs to eat every two hours. If he eats to much in one sitting he gets a stomach ache. He needs to put on weight and get strong because eight weeks from his day of surgery they want him to do some more chemo. They will call us this week and let us know how long it will be. They said it could be 3 to 6 months.

Matt has a Doctor appointment Thursday afternoon to get his stitches out. Matt is hoping then he can straight up and feel better.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

Friends!

This is the Herman family that took us in and treated us like family! We were so thankful to have friends like this to help us out! We thank them very much.

Tristin and Leity Herman in one picture

Gauty Herman with Matt in one picture.

Bill Herman with Christine & Chad

Home!!

Matt Doctor appointment went well on Monday.
Matt's Restrictions:
1. Can't lift more than 10 pounds for another 3 week. Next week switch to can't lift more than 15 pounds.
2. Take it easy for 8 weeks after surgery.
3. Stitches out 30 days after surgery.
4. Has to each lots of calories but good foods.
5. No driving when taking medicines
6. Drink lots of water and juice, no carbon sodas (especially colas)
7. CT Scan in 6 months
8. Will have to have Chemo again 8 week after surgery for 3 to 6 months, every other week.
9. Have to have a certain blood test to check if cancer is back every 2 months.
10. Yearly check up in Washington D.C. every year.

After the check up we said good-bye to all the nurses, PA's, tech's and everyone that worked on 2NW. We took them a thank you bag of assorted fruits.

Then we went back to Bills and Leity's and packed our bag and left at 3:30 Monday. We were all home sick. Once we got started we couldn't stop. We drove straight for 13 hours and got home at 5:00 in the morning. We stopped for food and gas. When we got home straight to bed for a few hours.

Matt got up and went straight to Casey's to relax!

Here is Elsa Sugarbaker and Dr. Luigi at Matt's check up and a picture of 2NW people that took care of Matt! They spoiled him!!

Sunday Morning

Matt and his Mom and Dad had a lazy day on Saturday. So Saturday night we went to a movie, "Grand Torino". We came home and went to bed. Matt sleeps good to start with for 4 or 5 hours. Then he wakes up for awhile and then falls back to sleep. He has been eating some but not over doing. He can't eat a whole hamburger. It is to much yet.

Today is change his bandages and shower day instead of sponge bath.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Good Night

Matt watched some TV last night. He had some food to eat and decided to go to bed. Matt only got up once last. He has gotten some sleep finally with no interruptions.
Now we are having breakfast and Matt is having eggs and toast. Was a good night.

Matt is out!!

The Doctors came in this morning and asked Matt when he wanted to get out? He told them as soon as possible. They told Matt when they (the doctors) do their 10:30 round then he can leave.

We packed all our stuff and waited for Brian. We got Matt's prescription from the pharmacy. By then they had Matt's walking papers already. We were out of there by Noon. We took Matt for lunch. He ate a part of a turkey sub and was ready for a nap. We went to Bills and Leity's house. Matt took a nap and watched some T.V.

We are going to rest up for the weekend. Matt has a Doctor appointment on Monday afternoon. We will go back to Bill's for a good night sleep and leave to go back to Wisconsin, Tuesday morning. We plan to take it easy on the way home. We don't want to do 17 hours straight like the way down to Washington D.C.

Time to go HOME!

Doctors wanted Matt to stay until Saturday. When we explained we are staying in town until Monday for a follow up appointment he said we can go home on FRIDAY!

So sometime tomorrow we are leaving the hospital and going to our friends house. Hopefullly Matt will be able to sleep better there! Our appointment isn't until Monday afternoon. We will probably go back to our friends house for a good night sleep and leave early in the morning on Tuesday. We plan to take our time driving home this time. Try to make it more comfortable for Matt.

Matt will have his stitches out 30 days from his surgery day. He will also have to have Chemo treatments 8 weeks after his surgery. Not sure how much yet. Dr Sugarbaker is going to work out with Dr. Eastman in Johnson Creek what kind of chemo and how much. He will not be able to use the same chemo that did not work the first time. So we will wait and see what they decide for him.

Matt is just happy to get home!!

Thank You to everyone for all your prayers, thoughts, cards, emails, flowers! Matt appreciated everyone of them!! He Thanks everyone for thinking of him!! He can't wait to get home and see everyone!!

Although Matt can't wait to go home the nursing staff and all the tech at the hospital were Great!!! They all spoiled him! The took really good care of Matt and he would like to thank all of them for their help and care while he was in the hospital!! They are a special group of nurses, techs and Doctors to do what they do. Thank You so Much!

Matt

Address to send letters to Matt

*PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANYMORE CARDS DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL...THANKS!!
MATT WILL BE OUT SOON & WE'LL BE STAYING AT OUR FRIENDS WHERE, STARTING NOW, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND CARDS/LETTERS TO:

Matt Krueger
c/o Bill & Leity Herman
18916 Tributary Lane
Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Thank you for your healing prayers!
Brian and Kitty

Last Gernade going!

They are taking out the last gernade today! They are leaving in the TPN (bag of food) until Matt leaves. They say he is so thin that the extra food will be good for him. Still hoping to leave this weekend. We will go to my Dad's friends house because I have a Doctor appointment on Monday or Tuesday afternoon. Last check up!!
Hope to see everyone real soon!

Thank you for all the support and prayers!!

Pizza! By accident!

Matt had such a good morning excerising he came back to eat a late lunch. He had some beef, mix veggies and noodles and a cup of fruit cocktail. Fifteen minutes later the nurse came in to check his medicine and to give him his drugs. One was a new pill, Being Matt and not the best at taking pills he gagged on the pill and threw up all of his lunch. They are keeping track for 3 days what he is eating and now he is behind because we can't count the lunch. The nurse had no idea that Matt has a hard time taking pills. She felt so bad she went and got him a huge slice of pizza to make up the calories. Matt ate almost all of the piece of Cheese pizza.
Matt got lots of mail today, Enjoy the cards from Coach Gavin's class and Coach Washctas's class. Matt has enjoyed all the cards! Unbelievable all the different kinds of cards out there. Matt has everyone of the cards hanging up in his room. Every Doctor and nurse and others comment on all the cards! Thank you to all for thinking of Matt and all the comments on his blog! We read them every day!

Thank you for another good day and for all our friends and family support! Matt is blessed with some much!!

Excerises

Matt was just in the Gym. They played ball, worked on the bars to do bending and went up and down stairs. They said he did so good they don't need to see him any more! He was a little tired and went up stairs to his room, talked to Casey and took a little nap until lunch comes.

Morning Check Up

Think they figured out the fever. Infection in bowels. That's why sometimes it is loose and green. Some antibiotics should take care of it. Doctors thought he was doing good other wise, Just needs to eat.

Had a visitor last night. Pastor Ryan came to pray with us. We had a nice visit.
Thank you for all your continued prayers and thoughts.

Afternoon Check Up

Dr Luigi and Kimber PA were in and said Matt was looking good. If he eats his food the quicker he will get out. This afternoon he got salsbury steak, mashed potatoe and green beans. So far he is looking at it. He is eating the grapes!

They said possibly of going home this weekend. Dr. appointment would be set up for Monday or Tuesday. We will see how Matt eats and disgards things!!

Thank you for your prayers!

Breakfast!!

Matt just had scramble eggs, susage and a blue berry pankcake. He ate a little of the eggs ans susage. He doesn't like blue berry so I ate his pancake. They should be coming in soon to take some of the IV fluids off of Matt.

Lunch he is having salsbury steak, mash potatoes and green beans. Supper he is having turkey pot pie! He is so excited!

Thank you for all the cards and kind words. He helps to keep up Matt's spirits! He is doing great!

Soft Food!

Today they decided to advance Matt to soft foods. They are going to take out his pain meds thru his IV and now he will have to ask for them orally. The pain medicine will take a little longer to take affect but will last longer. They will also reduce the amount of IV liquids they are giving Matt. He is able to tolaerate drinking fluids on his own.

Another step forward!! Hopefully now maybe he will be able to sleep longer. Matt was up every hour and half to go to the bathroom. The only thing that they are concern about is he keeps having a fever. He had one this morning and last night again. They still cannot find the source of that. They are still testing for it.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!

Good but Sad day!

This morning Dr. Luigi said Matt has been doing great! This is PA Kimber who took out the other gernade this afternoon. He has been having nightly fevers. They think it might be an infection in his port. They are watching him and doing a blood test to check. Matt felt so good when he got blood the last time. Since then progessly his blood count got lower and lower so they decided he is going to get 2 more pints of blood. Dr. Luigi said maybe this weekend Matt might get out!

They also took out another gernade! We are down to 1 gernade left on his left side!!
It was good to get another one out.

Mat had a great weekend with Jenny, Nate, Casey, Linda and Brett here!! He was very sad to see them go. He loved having all that attention. Here are some pictures of the crew visiting. They just left for the airport.

Jello!

Last night was a pretty good night. Matt and Casey stayed at the hospital when the rest of the clan went to stay at family friend, Bill's house. They had a cook-out and some delicious chocolate cake we're not telling Matt about. (It's his favorite)

Matt got more sleep last night than usual. Since he got his cathetor out yesterday he got up frequently through the night to go the bathroom. Matt and Casey also took a stroll around the floor around 12:30pm which enabled Matt to sleep for 4 hours straight!

When Matt finally decided to be up for the day he looked to his left to find a tray of food! (cranberry juice, soup, and jello) Matt only likes the jello out of those options so he already convinced the nurses to give him two jello's instead of the other stuff.

Please continue posting comments and keeping Matt in your prayers.

~Written by Casey~

Walking Machine

Another one bites the dust

Matthew now has to get up to go to the bathroom whether it is number 1 or 2.

So far today has been pretty good. Matt has fallen into a schedule... do 2 laps go potty take a 2 hour nap, do 2 more laps go potty take another 2 hour nap. It's been a productive day.

Matt really enjoys having so many visitors with him, especially Casey. :)

Matt is also impressed that he has a new nurse today. He thought for sure he's had everyone in their system. Casey and Matt were also the first to sing Happy Birthday to Matt's future mother-in-law Linda, calling her at 7:19 this morning.

Written by Casey

Restless Night!

Matt was so excited getting his NG tube out and seeing Casey, Linda, Jenny, Nate and Brett last night that he had a hard time sleeping again. His temp was up last night at 102.4 so at 1:30am they took a chest xray. This morning the Doctors came for their usual visit and said that his port might be infected. That would explain why he had a fever. They are treating him with antibiotic's. They are doing a 24 hour watch on his catheter bag so he can get it out tomorrow. Matt is enjoying a Gatorade today. He is so HAPPY!! He was up walking with Casey twice already this morning. Matt enjoyed the video of alot of family and friends that Jenny made at home and brought to the hospital. Now he is a little tired and going to take a nap.

Passed the test!!!!

Rob the PA came in and said it could come out! Matt sat up in bed and got ready and 1.2.3 it was out. Matt said it didn't hurt at all. He got it out and we went for a walk a FREE man with Christine!! No NG Tube!! Horray!!!

Waiting is a long time!

Matt is waiting to see if they are going to take the NG tube out. He has to pass 3 tests in order to get it out. They fill a syring if it is less than 200cc he passes. The first test was at 2:00 pm was 110 he passed!! Hooray!!

The Second test was at 6:00 pm he was 140. He passed again!! Hooray!!

The third test is at 9:30 tonight. If he passes the PA will take it out because he leaves at 10:00. Matt is so looking forward to that. He has been taking it easy all day to make sure he doesn't drink to much of upset his tummy! We will let you know at 10:00 if he passes his test!!

Here I am with my occupational therapist walking over things. Her name is, Danille.

Thank you for all the cards. Matt really enjoys reading every one of them. Thank for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Another Gernade Gone!

Dr. Luigi was here and took out a gernade on Matt's right side. Now he doesn't have any tubes on his right side. Maybe tonight he will get some sleep. He will be able to roll on his right side. They clamped his NG tube. They will be checking it every four hours and they said if he does well it might come out tonight. Then the foley tomorrow.

Here is a picture of one of his favorite Tech.

thank you for all your prayers.

Test trails!

The Doctors were in this morning and said they will start clamping off the NG nose tube today. They are also going to take his Foley bag out and possible one more tube on his side! Matt was very excited to hear this. He has a hard time sleeping longer than an hour or hour and half. If he gets these tubes out he might sleep better! (I hope!)

Thank you for your continued thoughts and Prayers!

Hurray the Mail is here!

Brian went down to the mail room today and told them we know of many people who sent cards and pacakges to Matt and he had gotten one card since we've been here, using the address we were given upon checkin. Brian found the hospital mail room and was escorted from there to another sorting area for the building Matt is in, and there he found 3 packages and many, many cards. We sat and read them all to Matt and hung them in his room! Thank you everyone for the cards. It was not the U.S. Postal Services delay, they were missorted and delayed here at the hospital. Please note the new address, as everything goes to his hospital room regardless, even if it was addressed to the hotel. Thanks!

Matt went on 3 walks today around the second floor NW unit. They didn't take any tubes out today but except to take some out tomorrow. They are also going to clamp the NG tube. It is a 3 day process. It will be clamped for hours tomorrow. Then all day Saturday and maybe out on Sunday. Matt will be so happy!!! Here is a picture of Matt on one of his walks with his Dad, Brian and Christine and Chad.

Up and walking around!

Interns came around this morning and Matt feels pretty good so he said, "up Mom I want to walk". So Matt went around the whole 2NW floor this morning. The Doctor is coming back to talk to us. So Matt is getting his bed change and he is getting a sponge bath. So far the mail is realllly slow! Matt has gotten only one card and that was on Thursday last week. We called the mail room and they couldn't find anything. I will keep everyone who mention to us about mail and boxes if we get them. Thank you to all for keep Matt in your thoughts and prayers.

Good CT Scan

Matt had a CT Scan to see about the possible bleeding in his abdomen. They came up and told us everything was normal and there was no bleeding. Matt also had a low red blood count so he is getting 2 units of blood. Here is some of Matt's nurses today. Abbie, Jenny and Daniel.

Thank you for your many prayers. Matt is meeting alot of other Dr. Sugarbaker patients and finding out they have a lot in common. Nice to talk to people who understand what Matt is going through.

Report with Dr. Sugarbaker

Dr. Sugarbaker came in and talked with us. He had the pathology report and all the paper work on Matt. They are giving Matt 2 pints of blood and he is getting ready for a CT Scan. Checking to see about possible bleeding. Hopefully everything is healing inside. Here is Matt with Dr. Sugarbaker

3 out 3 to go!!!

Dr. Zappa came in and took out Gernade 1 and 5. Then he said in about 2 hours Matt will get 2 pints of blood. His blood count was low the other day and it is a little lower today so they decided to give him some blood. He will have more energy after he gets blood. Then he can go for his walk. I went and talked to Diane. He was afraid we would miss her. She will stop in before she leaves. Here is Matt pointing to the two places they took the tubes (gernades) out. This is what #5 gernade looks like. Matt's fnger is where some of his skin is. From there to the gernade was exposed. The rest was inside of him.

He is also getting a CT scan today to see what is going on inside of him. Why gernade #2 is filling up with blood? Also Dr. Zappa said probably by Friday he will get his NG tube out.

Thank you for all your prayers!

Losing a few more tubes!

This morning the 3 interins and Dr. Zapppa said they will be back mid morning to take out 1 or 2 of the gernades. Matt was so excited. They also said he could get up and walk the hallways. We are going to surprise one of Dr. Sugarbaker patient's, Diane. She is leaving at Noon today. She had her surgery a week before Matt. Matt wants to say good bye to her.

Thank you for all the thoughts and Prayers. One of the drains is still filling up to much. Hopefully it will decrease as the day goes on. Today Christine and Chad are coming for a few days. Matt can't wait to see his sister and brother inlaw.

Chest tube and heart monitor missing

Today was a good day. They took the heart monitor off and they took the chest tube out of Matt today. He was very happy about that. We thank God for another good day! We look forward to what lies ahead. Your prayers are being answered, keep the prayer chain going.

Morning Check up

Matt got some sleep last night. This morning when the interns came in it sounded promising that he might get his chest tube and one of the other tubes out. They are for sure taking him of the heart monitor. Matt got a spray for his mouth which has been helping him handle the NG tube in his throat. The tube in his colon area still has blood in it but not so much this morning. Dr Sugarbaker wants to watch it and see if it is still bleeding in a few days. Hopefully it will stop so they don't have to go in again to fix anything! Matt has been sitting in a chair a few hours each time a couple times yesterday. He walks in place for 5 minutes each time. They do not want him walking the halls unitl that tube (#5) stops bleeding. He is passing gas still. (Hurray)

Nights are hard

Matt finds nights hard. He can not get comfortable with all the tubes coming out of his side. The NG tube he really hates. He is trying his darnest to talk to someone to take it out. We were explain to by Nurse Carol that first they will clamp it for a few hours. If Matt handles that then they will clamp it for a day. If he deals with that then the clamp stays on for one more day and then it would come out. Matt did not want to hear it. He does understand that it is important but he still does not like the NG tube in his nose. If he doesn't have it all the bile he would throw up and possibly break some stitiches on his incision or possible break some internal stitches. I told him he does not want that to happen. Then it would have to get fix and start all over with the NG tube. Waiting for a nurse to get him up to walk and sit in a chair this morning. It is really snowing here in Washington DC. Watching the news and all school and business are closed because they expect 3-4 inches of snow.

All pooped out!

He did it!!! He has been tooting all day and tonight when he was sitting in a chair he had the urge to poop. So he sat on the toliet and he pooped!! There was some blood with it but he can't wait for the Doctors to hear about it in the morning so they take the tube out of his nose!! He told Doctor Sugarbaker that was his goal!! He walked in place for 5 minutes before he sat in the chair then he walked another 3 minutes before he got back into bed. Matt was dissappointed to see Matt Kenseth blew an engine today in the Las Vegas Race. Matt is counting down the days until he sees Casey and Jenny, Nate, Chris, Chad, Linda and Brett this coming week.

Please keep Matt in your prayers,

Good Day

Matt has been doing his excerises and breathing. They took the IV out of his neck and put it into his port. Makes turning his head a little eaiser. John Hoppe came to visit Matt. He was in Florida and took a train to D.C. to visit Matt. Brian took him to the train station. Mary also had to leave today. She was a big help watching Matt so I could get a nap, do laundry, go have lunch. She wouldn't miss the adventures of going back to her hotel with Brian. Always something exciting; getting lost, turning wrong on a one way street. Just ask Mary.

Matt has also tooted 3 times to day!! We all clapped! The nurse is writng it on his paper work. Looking to get the tube out of his nose asap!!!

P.S. My booties are gripped on both sides

Look at me (I'm out of bed)

This morning Matt feels much better than yesterday morning. He's been walking in place and sitting in a chair for about an hour. Dr. Sugarbaker said the IV in his neck comes out today and they will start using his port. Matt told Dr. Sugarbaker his goal is to "Toot" so he can get the NG tube out! Dr. Sugarbaker said to go for it!