Update on Nikolaos

For those of you following the Nikolaos saga, here is an update. Nikolaos seems to have a bowel obstruction. I have just spoken to Mara, at 0700 Pacific Time, after speaking to Arthur and Mara off and on through the night. They now suspect that Nikolaos may have Hirschsprung's Disease . That is a condition that is rare but treatable with surgery. Basically some of the nerve endings in the intestine fail to develop normally. The procedure simply removes the part that is damaged and with new procedural techniques, patients recover quickly with few problems. However, they want to confirm this with a biopsy, which they will do in a day or two. Mara said that some of the swelling seems to have gone down, so the medication they are using to treat the symptoms may be having an effect. Rhonda left last night to go to Greece and be with them. She is in the airport at JFK reading the New York Times and drinking coffee at Starbucks. She will leave for Thessaloniki this afternoon, Arthur will pick her up on Saturday and they will go get Mara, who will be released from the hospital. She wants to see Nikolaos but the hospital has a neonatal ICU that only allows visitors twice a day and you have to suit up with surgical outfits to even get in the place so I am not sure when that will happen. It is three hours driving time between the two hospitals, so Arthur is exhausted. He will stay in Larisa tonight, near Thessaloniki, to get some rest. Will keep you posted as more information comes my way. Your thoughts and prayers are welcomed.