Thanks to all of you for the good wishes! Mom had her feeding tube put in this morning without a hitch. It's in her stomach. They found a couple of ulcers they will work on while they were in there. The hospital gave her the first feeding today (while I was at work) so I'll be curious this evening to find out how it went. A friend was at the hospital when the dr. came around and called to let us know he will let mom come home once she's gotten accustomed to it. I know about the constipation issues from last time she had this cancer...not good. This time the hospital was pouring milk of magnesia down her and ended up having to stop! Don't have anymore details about the feeding tube itself but I'm sure we'll have questions about it as she progresses. I'm just hoping it will make life easier for her - she knows she needs the calories but doesn't have the strength or desire to eat/drink much right now. Once her surgery was done this morning and they wheeled her back into her room, the nurse asked how she was. As my mother proves once again how strong her spirit is, she raised both thumbs in the air... said she was glad it was overwith... and "it's all uphill from here!" I'll second that. She's been through the ringer this time too w/her radiation burns on her neck. When she was still at home the sheet stuck to it one night under her chin and pulled a layer of skin off. Hospital had it looking much better by Saturday a.m. using vaseline bandages. One of the nurses didn't bother to look at the order in the chart and did her own thing Sat. p.m. with the bandages and totally reversed any good that had been done. We fussed to charge nurse and everyone else we could find - now she's looking better again but it was so bad to have her suffer through that needlessly. Going to make a formal complaint to hospital about that one. Anyway, hopefully things are starting to look up for her. Thanks and take care!!!

Nancy T