Hi, Mark!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

MH>  I have learned more about bowels than I ever thought
MH>  I would ever need to know.


            As I did about pediatric leukemia 'way back when....  ;-)



[re my mother, after her surgery]
AH>  *where she was acquainted with various washrooms she could
AH>  get to on short notice*.

MH>  It seems to depend on what area of the bowel was removed.


            Makes sense, now that I think about it.  I just hadn't devoted
much thought to the subject because my mother never mentioned it once she'd
asked me to look up this strange condition the doctor told her she had. 
She'd carefully written down the name... and she knew we had some medical
reference books.  But for her that was an unusual degree of openness.  I
had to put the rest together from my own personal observations after some
time had gone by....  :-)



MH>  The descending colon is mainly for "storage".  It doesn't
MH>  have much other function.  Basically, you would have less
MH>  storage and would have to go more often, but the body
MH>  normally adjusts to this from what I understand.


            Ah.  My mother had Crohn's disease, which can occur anywhere in
the GI tract but is most often found higher up.  That might explain a lot. 
She was also getting on in years by then.  In my experience kids...
including kids with DS... tend to be more adaptable than the vast majority
of grownups I know.  :-)



MH>  It is going to be stressful.


            Yes, I'm sure....



MH>  I have checked with every pediatric surgeon in the state
MH>  and a few surrounding states.  We have selected the most
MH>  recommended one around with lots of experience, so I just
MH>  have to trust his ability and knowledge.


            Uh-huh.  Sounds to me as if you're doing all the right things.  :-)



MH>  Our main challenge right now is getting in touch with him
MH>  since he is very busy.  It will certainly be incredible for
MH>  our son not to have to deal with the "work-around" that we
MH>  have in place right now to keep him well.


            Yes, and probably for his parents too.  :-)



MH>  The plan right now is for the operation to take place this
MH>  summer.


            We may go camping briefly now & then, and even at the best
of times I may be slow to answer... but please be assured we haven't
forgotten you.  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+