Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

12 Midnight, Washington DC time

A quick update from Patty's post earlier today. Nothing too different, but more confirmation of what we saw earlier. Len (Patty's Dad), Patty, and I went off the base for dinner (Fuddruckers) and Patty brought back a plastic spoon, fork and several straws!!!! Guess what she put in his mouth first? Yes, a straw! She opened one end and told David to blow. Of course we realized quickly that air comes out his trache, not his mouth. But he held it in his mouth for awhile. Next, she placed all the items on David's lap and told him to pick up the spoon. He grabbed them all and after a time of feeling and sorting with his right hand he grabbed the spoon. Patty said "David, put the spoon in your mouth." He (slowly) brought it up to his mouth! We whooped, hollered and clapped, and Patty was on a roll. She went through the same thing with the fork and he actually put it in his mouth. Again, we cheered at this small thing that seemed so huge to us at that moment. Finally, she jiggled her glass of ice next to his right ear and he reached up and took the glass. (He can hear!!!) He held it for a short time. Patty put the glass by his side and he reached inside to play with the ice. The nurse said, "nothing by mouth", but that we could get the "spongy toothbrush" and let him suck on the ice water from that. (He hasn't been cooperative about this toothbrush and rinse before. We are able to put it on the outside of his teeth, but he won't open up his mouth! Stubborn!!! It's not his toothpaste flavor by choice!) Anyways, Patty handed the "toothbrush sponge on a stick" and said he could suck on the ice water if he wanted. He brought it up to his mouth too! He needed help getting it inside his lips, but definitely understood! He's alive and aware!!!!!! We can't wait to see what he does tomorrow. We had to stay until they gave him his "night-night" medicine, Seraquil(?) because he was trying to rip the tape off his i.v. and all the other tubes! He is ready to get up and go somewhere. Actually, one therapist asked the nurse if we could take him outside! Pray for an o.k. from the dr.!!!! and cooperation from the nurses and staff to transfer him to the chair and get portable stuff to unhook him from the wall!!!!

Tomorrow morning we will take Len to the airport so he can fly home to Sarah in Atlanta. It was so much easier to leave last week knowing that he was going to be here with Patty and David. That was a real blessing. Thanks Sarah for loaning him to us this week.

We still don't know if David can see, so please pray for his vision and for more movement on his left side, on top of everything else. But today was a good day, and God is good. Thanks for your continued prayers and your posts that help boost our spirits. We also know a lot of you are real prayer warriors but 'posting on blogs' is not your thing and your silent prayers are invaluable to us and David. Also, continue to pray for the others that were in the car with David. Christa talked to Daniel tonight and he is still having medical problems with his left hand (and he is left handed), that was "treated" in the Turkish hospital. Thank you again to them for helping David even though they were hurt themselves. If we can help you guys, let us know. You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Christa will update you more when she gets to a computer. Thanks.

Steve and Patty