Wednesday, October 17, 2007

4:10 pm D.C. time

After a day of being awake and cooperative yesterday, David continues assuring us that he is in his quiet body. We had a talk (one-sided) about not giving up the fight, that he is improving and can recover. I reminded him of Grandpa Bob after his stroke, how he wouldn't try and didn't improve. But, David is young and a soldier and can fight this battle with all of our help, support, prayers and God! It felt like he understood me. It has seemed that he closes his eyes when I talk to him, as an avoidance. So, today I told him to open his eyes and start fighting. He did! I moved his arms, legs, hips and shoulders around, and he cooperated. I put dice in his hands and tried to play a game with him yesterday. After a long time he let go of some...! Today I tried to have him show OT how he could drop the dice, but he decided to hold on to them. We tried to arm wrestle and he let me beat today. I gave him my cell phone and he held onto it and was trying to push some buttons. I think he will be texting someone soon! Who will be the first????? The OT handed him a pen and he clicked it on and off. Steve and I are going to go look for some sensory items for him to hold and move with his fingers. Oh, he also picked up a towel on his chest and wiped his face a little bit! He is picking up his hand and rubbing his head some too! His head is still hurting it seems. He continues to be on meds for fever, blood pressure, clotting, pain and an antibiotic. (Morphine is as needed.) The nurses and a couple of us put him in a chair again too. It wasn't much different than lying in bed, and it took them at least 20 minutes to unhook and hook his wires up again. No wonder they kept ignoring our requests yesterday!

Thank you all for your continued prayers, emails, blog comments, cards, gifts and calls. It is really hard for me to talk on the phone. The zero on the room phone doesn't work, and there is no reception in the hospital for my cell phone. We try to stay all day and into the night with David, to make sure he is safe.

I am concerned and asking for prayer about rehab. When they send David to Palo Alto for Rehab he will still need to be suctioned from his trachea often and can't ask for help. He will be in a private room. I don't know how far away a nurse will be. Pray for that situation to be taken care of at Palo Alto somehow. I have missed the doctor's calls two times regarding this issue. They won't send him with a fever, or needing to be suctioned more than every 4 hours. This afternoon it went up to 101 again. It will probably be the beginning of the week at least.

There are so many stories here of the wounded heroes who have recovered! It is truly amazing. I am so thankful for all the people who are serving our country! Thank you!!!! There are many men and women in the armed forces here that are amputees and or have problems physically and mentally. One group here is sending shoe boxes overseas for the troops. The Red Cross is passing out quilts and afghans to soldiers coming into the hospital. On the weekends many groups come on post to bar-be-que and entertain the troops and families. Family support here has been amazing. The American Legion donates food and all kinds of goodies to fill the kitchens and bathrooms of the homes where the soldiers live and their families (Fisher House and the Malogne Hotel). If you want to help, check out your local VFW, Red Cross, the American Legions, and quilting groups and get involved there. Veteran's Day is coming up quickly, there are some cards and posters up here. Make sure to thank a veteran this year. :-)

Patty
A great site to look at for more understanding on traumatic brain injury is http://www.tbirecovery.com