Lots of very good advice! We’re blessed with a house full of knowledgeable people here. Thanks for all the input everyone!

Ms Canuck is right on, Boxers. I tend to err on the cautious side these days, and I know NOTHING about pedicures, but are their cutting and filing tools sterile?  Gloves and masks?  Moonsuits? I was so careful about anybody touching me for awhile (other than my dear wife, Debbie, of course) - I'm sure I was WAY too careful, but I have not been hospitalized since the TP.  There really have been no bumps in the road.  Heck, when I was still in the hospital a night nuse reported in for her shift with a raspy, hoarse voice, and  asked her to go home or switch with someone else.  I did not let her in my room.

And fungus is at the top of things to avoid, right next to germs and molds and mildews.    Be very careful.  I'm glad you are seeing an infectious disease docotr.  If not, I would let my coordinator know what is going on.  You have to stay away from common folk medicines and cures until you are cleared by the coordinator.  At least in my world.

You are doing spectaculary well, Boxers.  Pay attention to the small stuff.

Canuck makes great points. I would see a podiatrist if it were me. MDs generally are less qualified to treat toenail problems, that is why we have podiatrists.

one doctor told my hubby to soak in bleach water...... so far so good; not sure about the mixture so maybe google it?

Well! I never! I could not in a million years ever imagine how quick a person could be recovering from a earth shattering, mind-boggling, wonderful surgical intervention such as you have had! And you, chomping at the bit, wanting to drag yourself off far-far-away home, home, home again in a milli-second after getting out of ICU! Slow-down!, you have been so brave and lucky and good and patient and so very cooperative thus far, it will not be much longer, (and then, you will have the rest of your life!!!)  You are already doing what the wound needs (you and your sis), stick around and see if the other experts do have any better ideas, it will heal. Toe fungus! Ew, and darn it, just to screw up a nice pedicure too! I have a thought on that, try what you will and what the docs says for your toe fungus, but don't get anymore pedicures unless you get "nail care" from a qualified podiatrist who knows you are on anti-rejection drugs, AND as soon as that current/recent lovely polish has lost it's lustre, remove it and don't wear any toe polish for a while (quite a while), when lots of time has passed and you are well-healed up again, and the toenail fungus gone, and you are on less meds, then, you can start up again with the toenail polish, but I would drop regular pedicures from those commercial shops for a while, I would opt for a podiatrist if I needed nail care (one who knows what you are on and have been through), maybe make your hubby give you nice foot massages every day instead, and tell him the doc said it is required that he must do this for you, same for breakfast in bed, etc. heehee. I am so glad you and your sis and RC and Chris all met up. Just grand! Keep inventing things to do to make your days pass more quickly and with as much pleasure/comfort and distraction as is safe to muster, this part will not last forever. You are alllll-most home. Thanks for being so attentive to us! Thanks for posting all the meds on your med. list! Quite the list, did you read the post from SS about how some of those drugs came to be, very neat links about SS's doc and hospital facility in Pittsburg. We learn (have learned) so much from you and RC and SS (most of all what wonderful deserving people you all are, to have received this wonderful gift!). Just utterly amazing.  C.

Just wanted to let you know that today was Anatoly's last day. He is going to NYC and get some other surgical training. He was a little vague about the transplant pursuit but he did say he had some issues with transferring some of his license or education stuff. I asked him if he would continue with  transplant, he said he would be a surgeon but probably not going to pursue this any further...I had a sense it wasn't for him. Sad to see him go.

Got the tea tree oil going last night...pretty pungent in a one room hotel..lol! I have an appt. at wound clinic Friday, first they said the 14th, I almost stroked...really, if it is that bad shouldn't I be seen now instead of 10 days from now. Anyway Kimberly got me in Friday. The regular clinic has an infectious disease doctor to talk to about the toe, I told them to take it off, haha! As you can see, I am home sick. I feel great, so it is hard to just wait.

Yep, I’ve heard that Tea Tree oil is great. Some people use it and Oregano oil together. There are a few different remedies, covering it with Vick’s Vapo-Rub has been known to work. Best to let your wound people know about it, too. You shouldn’t worry though, it‘s a common ailment that can be handled easily.

Hi Boxers, Get some tea tree oil and paint it on the nail.  It works great (fast). RC

Well I hope this isn't another "glitch" but I had a pedi today and when they took the polish off, one toe nail had toe fungus. I was shocked....I had her leave the one nail unpolished so I could show them tomorrow at my appt. Fungal infections scare me...gotta quit reading. My wound specialist has not called yet but it is getting better, so hopefully I won't have to deal with that. Other than that all seems well. My heart is with all of you that are in treatment or helping family going thru it. It is a personal journey for sure. If you have any questions regarding this last chapter, please don't hesitate to ask.

Boxers