February 7, 2012 - Additional Update

Bro. Dale had a successful attempt at covering the trach opening during therapy today!  Thank you for praying!  God answered our prayers!  They did not leave it covered for as long as they will later, but it was for at least 30 or 40 minutes. (The respiratory therapist wasn't able to be in therapy with him today.  They will leave the valve capped longer when she is able to be there.)  He did great with it.  His oxygen level remained stable and he was able to make some vocal sounds.  It didn't seem to bother him at all that it was covered.  That is a great start!  They will probably try to leave it capped longer tomorrow. 

The resident doctor came through this morning and after all of them met together, they decided to wait a week to recommend him to Jackson.  This will give him more time to work with the trach and to recover from the surgery.  He will just be that much stronger in another week as well! 

When they came to get him up today, they were short handed on lifts, which they usually use.  They asked him if he could move his right leg and he moved it from the hip down this time!  During therapy, when they stood him up, he rocked himself back and forth, shifting his weight from one leg to the other all on his own.  They were not making him do it this time.  When they put the air cast on, he was doing some of the movement on his own this time, but he still was not able to move it completely on his own.  They were helping him some, but he was definitely doing some of it on his own!  When he got back to the room and he got back in bed, Mrs. Doug was talking to him about what all he had done and she could tell he was so excited.  He was clearly aware that what he had done was a big deal. 

When he was eating today, the speech therapist and occupational therapist were there watching him and they had him wipe his mouth with his napkin and so things that we usually take for granted that he is having to relearn.  But he was doing great with it! 

All in all, they had a great day.  Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement!  And thank You, Lord, for all You have done and continue to do with Bro. Dale!  You are worthy of our praise! 

"³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:3-6