Very encouraging news to send along this week! Steve has regained the ground he lost during the hematoma setback of January into February.
He is off of most of the pain medicine and is much more alert and conversational. Visits with him are so much easier.
It has been determined by pulmonologists that he has the use of his diaphragm now and the breathing results he achieves are with the correct muscles, instead of secondary muscles which is all he had to use before. Yesterday, the pulmonologist said that he had “beat the odds” referring to his opinion of almost a year ago that Steve probably would not come off the vent. He also praised Steve as a “fighter!” While he is still using the ventilator, his current goal is to be off it and on the Trach collar (just provides oxygen) 18 hours a day. They will raise it up as the daily numbers dictate. He has steadily climbed from 12 hours off the vent to 18 in the last week.
Yesterday, Steve got to get Hoyer-lifted into the wheelchair (last done in September) and we went rolling around the halls of the unit, carrying oxygen behind. It was so good for him to escape the room and the constant beeps of equipment.
Many thanks to friends who, over the past week, kept me able to visit the hospital by fixing our cars, loaning a car to me, and giving me rides. I also got to take that trip to refresh with family in Ft. Wayne. Thanks to those who visited Steve during those days.
Thank you all for prayers and other thoughtful help!
Nancy and Steve
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