Graduation Date

Pop is scheduled to graduate from rehab on Friday, July 10! The Duke team said he could actually graduate today based on his fitness level, but after July 10, it’s official.

Next week will also be the last week for IV antibiotics. There are a few more doctors appointments as well—a bronchoscopy and an “esophagus meeting”—but treatment in Durham is starting to wrap up. As of this writing, Pop is on track to be back on the Bluff on July 17th.

The expectation at the start of this quest was that he would be in Durham for 6 months and potentially longer. Pop is at day 109 right now, so to be heading home on day 125 in a couple of weeks means meeting yet another goal ahead of schedule. And this one will be one of the sweetest.

Duke will continue to supervise Pop’s recovery when he is back in Pawley’s, including performing a Nissen wrap procedure toward the end of the summer to treat acid reflux. Pop has had acid reflux tests both before and after the transplant and the amount of stomach acid reaching his esophagus is high enough that the doctors actually think it could have contributed to the original fibrosis! If stomach acid gets into your lungs, it can definitely damage them over time. So, the Nissen wrap is a must at this point to keep any acid rain off Sam & Dave.

No doubt there will be some additional ups and downs in the coming weeks and months as medications continue to be adjusted and Dad’s body finds its way to a new normal. But it can only be good voodoo for Pop to be back home for the start of what will be a very different and, God willing, special Saints season. Can Da Boys be the first team to win the NFC South 4 times in a row? No fans in the stands? Wait, will the Bucks be good now? Also, side note: Cam Newton is dead to me.