Barbara, anything that invades his body could be a source of infection, that is one reason why that is such great news that it has been removed! It was such a problem eating with that thing in the way that he has had a real problem with it. NOW he is completely MOBILE! He was very embarrassed the way people would stare at him when we would take him around the hospital but I know it was shocking to many to see this thing hanging out of his nose.. This means maybe he can look more "normal" and not be stared at. They are also letting him wear scrubs and more "normal" type clothing to go out of his room.