Chapter twenty-four

The road to recovery

Within three days, Chet was feeling well enough to get out of bed and restart his physical and occupational therapies. The graft was taking well and he was not developing any reactions of any kind to the graft medications. Dr. Brackett had told him he would probably begin the by mouth one within a week if all went well.

Even though the therapies were grueling and sometimes painful, Chet remained in high spirits. He really felt that this time there would be no problems in his recovery.

Even Jeanette felt very positive that this time, Chet was definitely on the road to recovery and would be home soon. She even felt confident that he should be able to return to being an active fireman again.

February dawned beautiful and the groundhog even predicted an early spring. Dr. Brackett had also given Chet and Jeanette good news, telling them that Chet should be able to be discharged by March if all goes well.

"Why March? Isn't that rather a long time?"

"Well, Chet, we want to keep you here that long to be sure the graft really is successful. Also it can take up to six weeks for an allergic reaction to the graft to occur and we want to be sure you are easily accessible if that should occur. Not that I think it will, but we want to be sure. OK?"

Chet was surprised to hear that. He really thought things were going great. "Wait a minute. I thought everything was ok with the graft."

"It is, Chet, we just want to make sure it stays that way. Ok?"

Jeanette looked at her husband and realized he was scared of more problems, while she knew, as a nurse, that these were just normal precautions taken with every case like this.

"Chet, honey? Don't be so upset. This is a normal procedure done with all transplant cases. I have seen quite a few, and they are all done the same and usually without complications. Dr. Brackett just wants to be careful. You can't blame him for that, can you?" "Is Jeanette right, Dr. Brackett, is that all it is. Precautions?"

"Yes, Chet, Jeanette is right. Please don't work yourself up, just keep thinking positive and continue your terrific progress and you will be out of here soon. OK?"

"Ok, Thanks a lot for being honest with me Doc."

Dr. Brackett smiled at his patient and left.