Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 - 05:56 am:

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Last night, Dave was moved from ICU to the PCU. I'd just like to let everyone know that we've received the green light to be transferred to a rehab facility tomorrow!!!

He will be there for approximately 2 weeks undergoing "intense physical, occupational and speech therapy.". If this all goes well, then he will be HOME AGAIN!!!

He does have somes short term memory loss, at times forgetting why he's in the hospital. He comprehends and understands fully all that is being said to him. His speech is improving, as are his motor skills. The therapist had him walking with a walker today! Back on 2 wheels! Lol!

At rehab, his day will begin at 8am with breakfast combined with speech therapy to further work on swallowing and physical therapy to strengthen and fine tune his motor skills of his right arm. Then an occupational therapist will work with him on showering, shaving and dressing himself. Then onto "the gym" for muscle conditioning, walking and upper body strength. He'll have lunch combined with more speech therapy. There'll be an hour and a half break, and then the afternoon will end with speech therapy ending at 4pm. More than likely, he will need a therapist that will come to our house sessions once he leaves the rehab center.

There's still confusion and he gets easily distracted, but his entire care team is more than pleased with how well he is doing. I get the feeling none of them really thought he was going to pull through.

He is making progress each and every day. Even though it may be baby steps, he's farther along at this point than anyone could have ever imagined he would be.

It's still going to be a long road before he's classified as "recovered", but that's ok. We may have to make alterations and accomodations for him at the house, but that's ok too.

I am so proud of him! His heart, determination and sheer will to overcome his current disabilities astounds me. While he hears what the therapists and doctors say "it's just going to take time, don't get frustrated, be patient" , it's quite another to fully accept it and follow it. It's been explained to me that he has a different concept of time than the rest of us right now. With the short term memory loss and the confusion, he could feel that he's been this way for much longer. I just keep reminding him of the number of days he been concious and how far he's come.

The 3rd night after his surgery, his night nurse Gwen and I were having a heart to heart as she changed out IV bags and took vitals. I kind of broke down. She came and took my hand and said "Don't worry - this man is blessed and highly favored." So many angels sent to me disguised as nurses during the darkest moments. She was right.

My boys and I have been so touched and overwhelmed by the love and support. I know I sound like a broken record, but I feel like I still have to say it. We thank you from the depths of our hearts. We couldn't have brought him back without you guys!

It's one thing for a wife to love her husband with all her heart, but it's quite a compliment to see that others love him a lot too. I'm a little biased when it comes to my adoration for him.

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Posted on Friday, November 21, 2014 - 11:36 am:

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It took me about 3 hours to figure out what he wanted to do using our new temporary way of "communicating" for taking this picture and that he wanted it to be his profile pic. I told y'all he's still in there! His sense of humor is perfectly intact.

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