Dear friends and family, First Bob has a new room. He's in 1075A and new phone is 215-615-4543. Calls and visitors welcome as this looks like we're in for the long haul. Pulmonary will be weighing in tomorrow as to whether or not they think Bob's lungs are up to him having the pericardiectomy and stripping which, apparently he needs as evidenced by the high pressures found during the cath. This is a big surgery and they would have to break Bob's sternum a la open heart surgery. Bob, I think is tending towards sticking with medical treatment, no matter what pulmonary says. And I agree. He has been through 9 years of misery and kept such a brave face and mind and heart, but this would be asking too much. So tomorrow Bob will talk with Dr. Hirshfeld who is a calm and gentle man who has won my respect in our few, brief meetings. I think they will continue with the aggressive diuretics and steroids etc. My hope is that if the constrictive pericarditis was a result of the gvhd, then the steroids will knock the gvh down and that too will decrease the edema. Always hoping, hoping, hoping. Thank you Santa and Sam for visiting today and an early thanks to Bill for going in tomorrow. I will work tomorrow and be there (hup) Tuesday.I think I will be eating HUP turkey with Bob on Thursday! Yum!! Thank you Fred and Terry for writing. Who else is out there?? Why not write a comment so I can pass it on to Bob. I sai d to someone yesterday that this is the first time in 9 years that I've heard Bob sound defeated and honestly, it scares the hell out of me. So please keep the prayers coming. I know hearing from you all helps me keep going so I can do the same for Bob. All our love and thanks, Bob and Mo