Tuesday, October 12, 1999

            The pathology report is good.  I will not require further cancer treatment.  I can leave the hospital tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

            The nurse comes in and removes my catheter.  It had functioned as a drain to remove my body fluids.  I am detached from my overflow bag.  The pouch against my body will collect my urine.  The IV has been disconnected.  I am now mobile.

            As I stand up I feel my urine leaking.  The nurse checks the pouch and says that everything looks secure. The leak is coming from my penis.  I am told this is normal.  After the catheter is removed it can take several days for the body fluids to drain.

            The physical therapist tries to teach me to use a cane.  I am supposed to hold the cane on my good right side, and then step with the cane, then the left leg, and then the good right leg.  I have more problems learning to use the cane than walking without it.

            Cindy, the urostomy nurse, comes to show me how to put on the pouch. She cleans the skin around the stoma using a soft paper. She dries the skin and then places the pouch over the stoma and presses it against the skin.  The pouch consists of an adhesive skin barrier with a hole in the center to fit around the stoma, and a plastic bag to contain the urine.  This is a one-piece pouch.

            Rhoda comes to the hospital early with my clothes and a tuna fish sandwich from the hospital cafeteria. We are scheduled to leave at 4:00 PM.  I change and we wait.  Finally, a little after 4:00 p.m., the driver arrives with a wheel chair and we leave.  Within twenty minutes, we are home.