Hi Y'all from the south. I hope this update finds you well. Well, where do we begin. The last time we blogged, I mentioned we were going to keep the "outside tubes" because we could keep them clean better than internalizing them. BUT, We had to keep flushing them twice a day to keep them open. The docs also said that if I got a fever over 101, to head for the ER. So Tues night I hit 103 and we headed for the Ft Myers ER. Flushing the tubes can cause infection. The Ft Myers hospitals are swamped with snowbirds so we waited for ever and spent 2 nights before we got released so we could go back to Tampa where they know the "ins and outs of the tubes" ( how's that for a pun). We drove up to Tampa Thurs afternoon and spent the night for an early appointment to replace the old tubes then we went home same day. The good news is that the docs think plastic covered tubes can be used for internalizing both tubes. The success rate of the tubes staying clear after 1 year is 95 %. This means I can be more mobile, less pain, less chance of future infections, and a better quality of life. So, That's it for now. Thanks again to all of our friends-all of your cards, calls, e-mails, and most of all- your prayers. They mean SO much. God bless, The Rutts