The last couple of weeks have been about breathing and technology to connect Steve with the world outside his hospital room. Thanks to Kristy, and new recruit for the “tech team” Sam Slayden (friend from church), Steve now has internet access and two choices of mouse control, the Camera Mouse that Kristy installed and an antenna mouse attaching to a headband that Sam rigged up. Thank you both for hours of devotion to this cause. Steve will be accessing it more and more as breathing becomes easier!
And it is! With some wide swings in time on the trach collar, he now is hitting 12 hours in a row more consistently. This means that he just has the machine blowing extra oxygen into his trach. This can also be accomplished with a portable oxygen tank for the times he is helped into the wheelchair. Much less in machines and tubes to fight through! So yesterday he had the opportunity to sit in the wheelchair and we went out “on our own” – just him and me and the oxygen tank, around and around the unit halls. The respiratory therapist kept a watchful eye in case we dared go through the unit doors to exotic places! AND during this time we were able to talk, due to a special speaking valve that can be inserted into the trach collar. I put it in and took it out several times yesterday! Can the laser light and alphabet chart soon become obsolete? Please, Lord.
So many of you prayed specifically for talking and swallowing and both have come! Steve got cleared for soup and jello yesterdayJ This, in addition to the pureed food he already has to choose from. Please now pray with us targeting the finishing of getting off the ventilator and for his arms and hands to move! Needing to move arms and hands is one of Steve’s biggest physical and emotional challenges right now. Thank you!
One more praise for good news…..case manager, Chantelle and Dr. Krause persisted in getting Steve set up to see a neurologist outside the hospital and an opthamologist (he still has double vision)!
The neuro appointment is next Thursday the 2nd at 9:00. He hasn’t been strong or stable enough to go to such appointments until now. He will go by EMT van with equipment on board. Specifically, we hope the neurologist can renew our hope and patience for the return of other body functions and help us make sure we are doing all we can for him.
Thank you for standing by us and doing so much to support with prayers, cards, calls and visits, even after six long months!
Nancy and Steve
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