Mom's words:

"They were not able to do the scope today because the opening was too small to get the instrument through. The doctor said that they have to get rid of the barium & do the CAT scan before they can do surgery so they will know what they're dealing with. The plan is to keep Ed on the cleansing routine here at the hospital until he is free of the barium. They have him tentatively scheduled for surgery on Monday."

While a lot of folks might find a week of bed and television and people bringing you supper heavenly, Pop ain't one of them. He is feisty though when he's distracted from being stuck at the hospital. Earlier he snuck a couple smokes in the bathroom, but said the goon squad (his words) came in before he could get off three puffs. Perhaps Dad's best news today was when Dr. Heather (the only doctor Mom & Dad really liked, but definitely his favorite now) said that we didn't hear it from her, but she saw no problem with him hauling his IV outside (apparently UNC Hospitals is antsy about their IV racks wandering off) for a smoke -- whatever passes the time and, consequently, the barium.

As Dad's not the big chatter that Mom is (919-966-1841), you may prefer to drop him a note or a transcript of today's Paul Harvey at:

Ed Summerlin
Room 4712
UNC Hospitals
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514