It has been a long and dreary week for Leah at the hospital.

The view from the fourth floor.

She finally made it home on Thursday.

This surgery was very similar to one she had five years ago to address a partial bowel obstruction, which was itself a result of colon cancer surgery in 1999. The surgeon said he touched literally every inch of her intestines to pick apart adhesions. He also took out a few inches of her small intestine that had a constriction. We all — Leah, me and the surgeon — hope this is the last time anyone ever needs to inspect Leah’s intestines that closely.

Despite the similarity to the last surgery, this one was much worse. Before the surgery, the surgeon said Leah might have to stay in the hospital a day, or maybe two. As it was, she was in the hospital eight days including the day of surgery and the day she was discharged. She spent almost the entire time sleeping, waking only to ask for pain medication or something for nausea.

To add insult to injury, she also couldn’t urinate without a catheter. As late as Wednesday the nurses were instructing her on how to use one after she went home. And then later Wednesday she was able to urinate without the catheter. The nurse told me that the nursing staff broke into applause when they heard.

She is clearly improving, but she still has a way to go. She has little or no appetite and still has bouts of nausea. Thursday night she had a little ice cream. Later in the night she became nauseated and lost anything that was still in her stomach. Friday night she had an Ensure and a single scrambled egg for supper. So far, so good.

Thank you to everyone who has commented or thought about Leah.