On October 5, 2016 at 8:19 PM Steve was taken into the operating room for his second surgery.  The story continues to unfold through my actual text messages:

Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 12:42 AM Surgery is done.  Honestly not sure what to say.  They didn't get the response they were hoping for - the blockages are all down his leg & throughout his foot in microscopic areas they can't surgically get to.  He was able to get more of the clot out of the thigh, so the medication has been focused behind the knee & he said "we need the meds to work, we don't have another option."
 
On a positive note: Steve's body is somehow figuring out a way to get some blood flow through his foot, so the doc said that this is not now or should ever be a loss of limb situation.
 
If the meds don't work then he'll have potentially lifelong debilitating pain.
 
Next step will be to do "pictures" tomorrow, maybe around 4 to check the progress of the meds.

 Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 7:35 AM The docs just came by to do their rounds.  They were able to find a decent pulse in a place that hasn't had one since he got here...that means something is working.  Be it meds or Steve's body making its own path.
 
The plan is the same - he'll go back in later today for them to figure out how well things are flowing.  More than likely he said they would remove the catheter that's inside his leg (administering the meds) because if they haven't worked at the level they were hoping it's not worth keeping him on it because the risks are too high.  I believe this med is the only reason he's in ICU.
 
The best way I can describe what's going on is that a tree has a trunk, branches, twigs & leaves.  The doc can operate on the trunk & branches, but it's Steve's "twigs & leaves" that are the issue.
 
Steve's starting to show mental fatigue & am doing what I can to keep him encouraged.  Pray not just for better blood flow results, but also for his mental stability.  I'm struggling to process what he's having to endure here & am so proud of him for his strength.
 
Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 8:24 AM Not entirely sure yet.  From what the doc told me last night it could be extremely painful for the foreseeable future (possibly life), especially if he tried to jog or run...that parts not a problem.  
 
Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 8:37 AM Last night was soooo hard. Steve had 3 panic attacks.  Not to mention a barrage of other things that were so difficult to see/hear.
 
Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 2:35 PM No, his blood pressure is low & they're giving him a unit of blood now.
 
Date: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 2:43 PM He has rather lucid moments & then fogginess other times.  Yes more anesthesia tonight.