Posted on Friday, November 14, 2014 - 05:55 pm:

---

quote:

HE'S OFF THE (bleepin) TUBE!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!!

---

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 - 08:51 am:

---

quote:

Good morning all! I just wanted to drop a quick update to let everyone of you know that your prayers, good mojo, thoughts, and positive energy thrown out into the universe are working!

Dave has been out of the "coma" for, let's say 1 1/2 days. I don't really count Friday, because he was still in and out of conciousness, I'm sure from just letting all the meds get out of his system. He was confused and agitated, especially when he realized the right side of his body was not working. He still couldn't talk, but they said to give that a couple of days to allow his vocal cords and throat to rest from having the breathing tube.

Yesterday was his first full day awake. He's responsive and seems to understand most of what is being said to him. When he gets tired, or there are too many people talking at once, he tends to get confused. He can now nod and shake his head, which hallelujah!, he wasn't doing on the Monday we took him to the ER or since. It was a very emotional day for him, as he could more comprehend what I was telling him about the events that have taken place over the last 2 weeks. There were times I had to back off, because it was just too much too soon for him to process.

We've received cards and letters, which I had taken with me to the hospital and I read to him. I also got on my laptop and read him some of the comments from Badweb and Facebook. He waved his hand at me to stop, because it was just too much for him to take just yet. He's just as touched as me and the boys at the incredible outpouring of love and support.

Friday, after the tube was out and he was out from under the sedation well, his Respiratory Therapist came to check on him before his shift ended. Alfonso was one of the first members of his care team when we arrived in ICU. He was the one that had intabated him that wild Thursday morning. He was also the one that removed it. I asked Dave if he remembered Alfonso and he looked at him kind of like he did. Alfonso said "I'm your respiratory therapist and I removed your tube earlier. i just wanted to check on you before I left for the day." Dave lifted his left hand to him and grabbed his hand in and pulled him down close to him for a bro hug. It was as if he was saying "Alfonso, you are my BEST friend today!" Several of the nurses he had last week came to visit him once the tube was out and he was awake, telling them how happy they were that he's doing better. The PT did an assessment yesterday, and said he is much stronger than he was before the surgery. He will have his first full PT session today, and she hopes to have him trying to walk tomorrow. She said he needs to be out of the bed for most of the day sitting in a chair and she wants him to eat at least 2 out 3 meals a day in the chair.The speech therapist also came and assessed him, and said even though there is still a delay with his swallowing, she felt confident that he could handle a puree diet for now. Needless to say, dinner time was not fun. I mean, honestly, pureed chicken? Blech! He can't talk, but he let me know in no uncertain terms was he eating THAT. She also said he's much better than he was before the surgery.

The strength and determination in this man touches my heart in a way I cannot express with words. He kept me awake most of the night trying his best to talk. Even after I laid down on the couch in his room, he was still making sounds and trying so hard to make at least one word. He's begun his own PT, lifting his right arm with his left and moving it around. He continually raises it trying to grab on to the bed railing, forcing it to do what it does not want to do. At one point when I was at his bedside talking to him, he grabbed my hand with his left and had me hold my hand up in the air (like a high five) and he would try to touch my hand with his right hand.

He's frustrated and agitated, but he realizes it's going to take time and patience to come back 100%. We were told that speech would be the last thing to return, but he's still able to "communicate". I have to remember not to ask 2 part questions so he can answer yes or no. We're trying to figure out our new temporary normal so that we're not just staring at each other all day. He does seem to "connect the dots", laughing where he's supposed to, smiling at the nurses when they talk to him and follow the commands of what is asked of him. This means his brain is working at near 100%, it's just got to remember how to talk to the rest of his body.

I'm still keeping visitors to a minimum to give him time to rest as much as possible during the day. He's going to need all his energy for the therapy sessions over the next several days. As I said, when he gets tired, he gets confused and agitated. His focus now needs to be on getting that brain to tell that body what it needs to do so he can recover enough to come home.

The boys came to visit him last night and it was pretty emotional for the 4 of us to say the least. Our king has awakened!

I read somewhere once that "one voice is but a whisper; several voices will soon roar". I think it had something to do with speaking against the government, but I think it holds a lot of water in this situation. God, the universe, all the deitys, and even the Spaghetti Monster have heard the immense roars of friends and loved ones and total strangers begging and demanding at times for healing, hope, power, peace and strength to this man of mine. And for that, this family will be eternally grateful.

Please continue the prayers. It's still going to be a long road, but it's off to an incredible start.

---